Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has reiterated his commitment to securing a peace agreement with Russia by 2025, emphasizing the need for robust security guarantees from Western allies. In an interview with Italy’s Rai News 24 on January 10, Zelensky highlighted that long-term peace hinges on these guarantees, asserting that Ukraine’s NATO membership would provide the most effective solution. While Zelensky’s aspirations reflect a deep desire for stability, the path to a comprehensive agreement remains fraught with geopolitical complexities.

During the interview, Zelensky stressed the urgency of restoring peace, underscoring that Ukraine’s losses-both in human lives and infrastructure-have been devastating. “It is our wish to get [security] guarantees and to end the war this year; we will do anything for this,” he stated. However, he insisted that any peace settlement must include assurances from Western powers to prevent future Russian aggression.

“This is for the protection of Ukraine… and the whole of Europe,” Zelensky remarked, framing the conflict as a broader challenge to European security. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of harboring intentions to “destroy Ukraine,” a claim Moscow has repeatedly dismissed as baseless propaganda.

Zelensky has long advocated for Ukraine’s integration into NATO, viewing it as a cornerstone of his country’s security strategy. However, Moscow has consistently opposed Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, citing them as a primary catalyst for the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin has made it clear that any peace agreement must ensure Ukraine’s neutrality, alongside demands for the country’s demilitarization and “denazification.”

These demands highlight the chasm........

© Blitz