15 minutes agoZelensky: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in war, hope for peace summit soon
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed since Russia began the invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Speaking at a media conference in the Ukrainian capital for marking the anniversary of Russia's invasion, which began on February 24, 2022 Zelensky hoped [...]
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed since Russia began the invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
Speaking at a media conference in the Ukrainian capital for marking the anniversary of Russia's invasion, which began on February 24, 2022 Zelensky hoped a summit of world leaders would be held in Switzerland in the coming months to negotiate his vision of peace.
So far, 31,000 army members have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his deceitful circle have lied. But, anyway, each of these losses is a huge sacrifice for us”, Zelensky said.
Zelensky added he would not talk about the number of injured, due to security reasons.
It appears that this is the first time Ukraine has officially spoken in detail for the total number of military killed.
The last time Kiev spoke of the number of defeats in battle was at the end of 2022, when presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said 10,000 to 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.
Zelensky claimed Russia's losses are 180,000 soldiers killed and 500,000 wounded in this war, which is much higher than the current but impossible to confirm.
Russia does not reveal its losses in war.
On February 24th, Switzerland's president, Violet Amaherd, said her neutral country hopes it will hold a high-level peace conference in the coming months.
“I hope the [samami] will be held this spring. We should not lose this” diplomatic initiative, Zelensky said.
He added that he expects this peace initiative to be presented to Moscow.
Zelensky, meanwhile, also said that Ukraine's victory in this war depends on support from the West, which has faced mainly resistance from the Republican Party's lawmakers in the United States.
He said at the conference he is sure that the crucial package with aid to Ukraine will eventually be approved by the US Senate.
Whether Ukraine will lose, or whether it will win will be difficult for us, and if there will be a large number of victims, it will be up to you, from our partners, from the Western world”, Zelensky said.
He added that “has hope for Congress. And, I'm sure it'll be positive”.
