Zelensky different from Budanov: No one can predict the duration of the war

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky said that while his army is doing everything to remove Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, no one can predict how long this war will last”.

During an address to the nation in the late hours of May 13th, Zelensky said the outcome would depend not only on the Ukrainian people, but on our <x0-parters, from European countries, from around the free world”.

Russian forces have suffered major losses since the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th, and in the offensive currently under way in eastern Ukraine, few advances have been made.

But since Russian forces failed in their efforts to quickly take control of all Ukraine and surround Ukrainian forces, Kiev now says war is entering the third <x0phasis”, in which Russian forces will attempt to protect the territory they have already taken control of.

“This shows that they plan to make this a long fight”, said Ukrainian Defence Ministry adviser Viktor Andrusov.

“Moscow seems to be thinking that by procrastinating the war this way, it could force the West to negotiate and force Ukraine to surrender”, he said during a TV address on May 13th.

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky said that the very difficult <x0-negotia with Moscow” are continuing for efforts to evacuate Ukrainian troops from the port city of Marioupolis, located southeast of Ukraine.

Marioupolis was destroyed by the Russian army, which is trying to create an earthly corridor with the Crime Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Tens of Russian soldiers who are seriously injured continue to be trapped inside the Azovstal steel factory in Marioupol. Ukrainian soldiers in this factory are the last remaining in Marioupolis, destroyed by Russian forces. / REL/