Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hopes pressure on Russia will bring peace by autumn, though he said he cannot predict exactly when that might happen.
Speaking at a meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors in Kyiv, Zelensky said medium and long range Ukrainian drone strikes, international sanctions and diplomatic efforts must combine to leave Russia no choice but peace, adding that Ukraine would work very hard to achieve this in the fall.
Preparing for another winter of war
At the same time, Zelensky said he is preparing for another winter of war and has tasked his country's diplomats with securing technical support and weapons from foreign partners, saying every ambassador must secure arms for Ukraine. He pointed to the joint development of the "Freyja" missile defense system with European partners as an important international project for Ukraine.
Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying the war's end and preparing for a new mobilization, saying there is no sign the Kremlin is backing off its war goals even after nearly four and a half years of full-scale invasion. Many observers expect a new mobilization wave after Russia's parliamentary elections in mid-September.
Zelensky had announced in late June a 40-day phase of intelligence service operations meant to push Russia toward peace, during which strikes hit logistics centers belonging to Russian e-commerce company Wildberries. That 40-day period ends on Tuesday.
