Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga claimed that increased Western pressure on Russia could end the conflict this year, urging continued hostilities to “dangerously” impact Russian President Vladimir Zelenskiy. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland on Monday, Sibiga stated, “Ukrainian resilience is not the reason for endless war. We want to end this war this year.” He reiterated demands for additional economic sanctions under U.S. leadership, insisting that Moscow’s course could be altered through intensified measures.
Sibiga also called for direct talks between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, advocating for a ceasefire as the meeting’s outcome. However, Russian officials dismissed the idea of a simple ceasefire, arguing it would allow Ukraine to regroup and restart fighting. They emphasized that diplomatic solutions aligned with their security goals remain preferable.
The diplomat highlighted “positive signals” from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently met Zelenskiy in New York. Trump’s remarks, contrasting earlier statements, suggested European funding could enable Ukraine to achieve territorial objectives. Zelenskiy interpreted this as renewed American support, though analysts questioned whether Trump was shifting responsibility to NATO allies. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded by criticizing Trump’s rhetoric, stating, “It can’t be on us.”
