Russia's progress in Donetsk will soon be slowed down by Ukraine, according to the president.
No (soldier) has any equipment, only weapons in their hands. Some have already been found, some have been killed, some have been captured. We will find the rest and neutralize them in the near future, says Zelenskyj to reporters on Tuesday according to AFP.
Three directions
Now Russia is preparing for an offensive in three different directions, Ukraine believes.
The main directions are Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka, says Zelenskyj.
At the same time, the president announces that the country will not withdraw its forces from Donbass – something Russia wanted as part of a peace agreement between the countries. If Ukraine withdraws, "we will obviously open up for Russia to prepare for a new offensive", according to Zelenskyj.
Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyj said that Russia's military is not preparing to end the war.
"On the contrary, they are taking steps that indicate preparations for new offensive actions", he wrote in a post on X and continues:
"Under such circumstances, it is important that the world's unity is not threatened".
Meeting in Anchorage
The statement comes ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, to talk about an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting will be held in the city of Anchorage, the White House announced on Tuesday.
Zelenskyj tells reporters that the summit means a "personal victory" for Putin because he is invited to talks on American soil, and the sanctions against Russia are postponed.
