On February 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the conflict between the country and Russia broke out two years ago.
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| Ukraine situation: Mr. Zelensky publicly announced the number of soldiers killed, revealed a new counterattack plan |
This is the first time Ukraine has released death figures in more than a year since late 2022, when Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the conflict with Russia, which broke out on February 24, 2022.
Major Western media outlets such as Reuters and AFP quoted Mr. Zelensky's press conference in Kiev as stating: "31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in this conflict... This is a great loss for us."
However, Mr. Zelensky refused to disclose the number of injured people because he believed that this information would be beneficial for Russia's military planning.
In addition, the leader also said that Ukraine has clearly planned a new counterattack against Russia and that the major military reshuffle that saw the replacement of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi earlier this month is related to the new action plan.
"This plan involves a change in management, there are corresponding changes. Some plans will be prepared due to the problem of information leaks," President Zelensky explained.
Ukraine previously revealed that Kiev's counter-offensive plan last year was leaked and ended up "on the table in the Kremlin" before the operation began. Kiev's counter-offensive then failed to penetrate the prepared defense lines in the south and east controlled by Russia.
On the same day, Ukrainian President's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said that the country and its partners could invite Russia to attend a future peace summit "in case anyone representing Moscow at that time wants to really end the war and return to a fair peace ."
Reuters quoted Mr. Yermak as saying that Switzerland would host a summit to discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's vision for peace and that this vision could be discussed with the Russian side in a second meeting at a later date.
For its part, the Kremlin believes that there is currently no basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and that Kiev's peace plan is absurd because it excludes Moscow.
On the same day, Pope Francis called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, which could lead to a just and lasting peace.
Speaking at the Vatican, the Pope said: “There are so many victims, wounded, destruction, suffering and tears in a time that is becoming increasingly terrible and without end... I pray for a return to humanity to facilitate a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace.”
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