Zelensky says Russia is not currently preparing to end the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening video address that Russia is not currently preparing to end the war, an assessment that underscores the continued lack of progress toward a negotiated settlement.

Zelensky's remarks reflect ongoing skepticism within Ukraine's leadership about Moscow's willingness to pursue a genuine peace process, even as international diplomatic efforts around the conflict have continued intermittently.

The Ukrainian leader did not provide further specifics in the excerpt of his remarks regarding what evidence informed his assessment, but the statement fits a broader pattern of Ukrainian officials expressing doubt over Russian intentions throughout the course of the war.

The comments come as the war continues into its fourth year, with periodic diplomatic initiatives from various international actors so far failing to produce a lasting ceasefire or peace agreement between the two sides.