Zelenskyy: Russia losing initiative but war not lost yet
In a Guardian interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is gradually losing the initiative in the war but has not yet lost it. He highlights Russia's international isolation and Kyiv's willingness to share drone warfare experience with the West.
Russia's loss of initiative and military turnaround
In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian in London, Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a relatively upbeat tone, saying the military situation is the most promising for Ukraine in two and a half years. He stressed that while one cannot say Russia is losing the war, it is losing the initiative day by day. This is backed by a series of setbacks for Moscow: Ukrainian long-range drones struck Putin's home city of St Petersburg, setting oil terminals ablaze. In occupied Crimea, a key supply road has been hit, causing severe fuel shortages. On the eastern front, Russia's grinding advance has nearly halted.
Casualties and Russia's isolation
Zelenskyy stated that Russia is losing over 30,000 soldiers per month, with 23,000–24,000 killed and the rest heavily wounded. The real figures might be even higher. Ukraine also suffers losses but on a smaller scale. The president believes Vladimir Putin lies about the war to his own society and internationally, using lies as glue to unite Russian society. Russia has suffered political defeats, including Orbán's loss in Hungary and Kremlin-backed candidates failing in Moldova and Armenia. "They are isolated inside Europe and from the United States also. So they are alone," Zelenskyy said.
Western support and Ukraine's needs
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the Trump administration's focus has shifted to the Middle East conflict with Iran. He understands why the US uses so many missiles and weapons there, but regrets that Ukraine does not receive the same volume of support as Israel or Gulf allies. The most critical missing weapon is US-made Patriot systems, the only ones capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. He called on European partners to jointly develop an alternative to the Patriot, and Ukraine is ready to share its hard-earned drone warfare experience, calling it "priceless information."
Crimea's return and Russian society
Zelenskyy noted that long-range drone strikes have made the return of Crimea a distant but tantalizing possibility. Ukrainian forces are destroying the peninsula's logistics and military targets. The goal is also to make Russian society feel what war means. "Victory in this war is when Russian society recognizes that the war is awful, that the war is a tragedy not for someone, somewhere, but for themselves," he said.
Abramovich visit and King Charles
In May, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich secretly traveled to Kyiv. Zelenskyy told him Donbas will not be given up. According to the president, half of Putin's inner circle wants to continue the war, half wants to stop. After the interview, Zelenskyy met King Charles, with whom he has developed a warm relationship. He expressed hope to invite the monarch to Kyiv, possibly this year, noting that his wife sent regards to the king before the prime minister.
