Zelenskyy says Ukraine is not losing war but losing people and time to Russian attacks

By Kanyshai Butun

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine is not losing the war with Russia but is losing people and time as Russian attacks continue, stressing the need to end the conflict as soon as possible.

Speaking at a news conference in Oslo, Norway, alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for negotiations and hoped the US and European partners would help bring the war to an end.

“Of course, we are not losing this war, but we are losing people ... and because Russia attacks, we're losing people and time,” he said, adding that Ukrainian children are being deprived of their childhood.

Zelenskyy said US Envoy Steve Witkoff attended the meeting in Oslo, with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner joining online to discuss various “sensitive points,” security guarantees, and Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.

He added that Ukraine is ready for negotiations and supports exploring different ceasefire formats to achieve de-escalation, stressing: “We want to push as quick as possible to end this war."

He said Ukraine had supported a US proposal for an energy ceasefire but accused Russia of continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Kyiv had offered not to strike sensitive parts of Russia's energy sector if Moscow stopped attacking Ukraine's, he added.

He said Ukraine and its European partners had developed proposals aimed at advancing peace efforts, including a potential trilateral meeting involving the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and the US, saying Kyiv hopes Washington will convey its proposals to Moscow.

"We have some clear ideas on how to get to peace. And we are united with our European partners in this effort, and we want the Americans to take these ideas to the Russians. One of the important ideas is to move to a potential trilateral meeting of the leaders to address the issues that only the leaders can do," he said.

“Steve is going to Russia tomorrow, and let's see what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has to say,” he added.

- Legitimacy only with Ukraine’s participation, says Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy also said he had held a “very positive” conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier Tuesday, discussing sensitive issues including Starlink connectivity, air defense interceptor missiles, and intelligence sharing. He said the two agreed to speak again within 48 hours.

He said Ukraine is currently receiving intelligence from the US, including through an early warning system for Russian ballistic missile attacks, stressing that Washington’s support is important for protecting Ukrainian civilians.

On possible peace talks, Zelenskyy said no discussion of Ukraine's future without Kyiv’s participation can be legitimate.

“I don't know what about trilateral meeting will be between America, China, and Russia. It's up to them. But of course, if the issues are about Ukraine, our future, it can be acceptable only when we are at the table of negotiations. It's absolutely clear,” he said.

Asked whether Putin was using Moscow's ties with Iran as leverage over US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said he did not know but believes Russia has supported Tehran during the ongoing war, including through drone supplies and intelligence sharing.