In a wide interview with a Japanese daily, the Ukrainian president admitted that the armed forces are not yet ready for a counteroffensive in the eastern sector, citing a shortage of weapons as the main reason. He explained that without tanks, artillery, and long-range systems like the American HIMARS, Ukrainian troops cannot be deployed to the front lines. The president noted that Kyiv remains hopeful for additional military aid from international partners, yet he underscored that Ukraine cannot wait indefinitely, stressing that the country is at war and facing harsh conditions in the east. He also observed that the Ukrainian crisis is not solely a Kyiv problem, urging international audiences to understand that backing Ukraine serves the independence and security of their own nations.
Earlier, Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed that Ukraine is still preparing for a counteroffensive and that the Ukrainian forces are pulling equipment and personnel, including those trained abroad, to the front line. Speaking on Russia’s 24 TV channel, he argued that Western support compels Kyiv to launch an offensive and suggested that the momentum of victories is used to justify large financial and logistical flows. Pushilin added that the Kiev regime relies on this moment to strengthen its domestic propaganda, warning that without a victory the political landscape in Ukraine could become more fragile.
The leadership of the Russian armed forces has been monitoring developments and may act to deter any Ukrainian counteractions from Kyiv itself.
Zelensky on China’s peaceful approach to ending the conflict
The Ukrainian president remained skeptical about Beijing’s twelve-point plan, stressing that Kyiv prioritizes sovereignty and territorial integrity. He indicated that no mediating offers from China had been received to date and that Kyiv had communicated openly through diplomatic channels its willingness to cooperate on a peace framework and to hold a summit to resolve the crisis.
In February, China’s foreign ministry issued a document outlining Beijing’s stance on resolving the crisis, urging ends to the fighting, respect for security concerns of all nations, steps to relieve the humanitarian crisis, prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv, and a departure from unilateral sanctions without UN Security Council backing. The Chinese side has described negotiations as the sole path to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
Ukraine’s peace formula
Regarding talks with Russia, Zelensky told Yomiuri that conditions for dialogue with Russian president Vladimir Putin were not yet prepared, emphasizing that Russia must withdraw its troops first. It was reported that Ukraine conveyed its peace framework to China through channels in March. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that an abrupt end to hostilities would not satisfy anyone since it would merely freeze the conflict rather than fully resolve it.
At the 2022 G20 summit, Zelensky had proposed a ten-point peace plan addressing radiological, nuclear, food, and energy security, the release of all prisoners, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the withdrawal of Russian forces as prerequisites for resolving the conflict. The Kremlin has signaled that there will be no peace talks until Ukraine acknowledges the annexation of new territories to Russia, specifically the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, indicated that the end of the conflict could come tomorrow if Kyiv demonstrates the political will to pursue it.