Russia losing initiative on battlefield in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

KIEV, Ukraine - Russia is losing the initiative on the battlefield in its war against Ukraine, paving the way for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.

In an interview with U.S. broadcaster CBS, Zelenskyy said the Russian army has been increasingly on the back foot since the end of December, suffering heavy losses.

The Ukrainian military is recapturing more territory than the invading force is occupying, he said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responding to the losses by increasing the intensity of his bombing campaign against Ukraine.

Russia's weakness offers an opportunity for a diplomatic solution before the onset of next winter, Zelenskyy argued.

However, he added that this would require internal pressure on Putin as well as increased sanctions pressure from the U.S. and Europe.

Europe, too, must be at the negotiating table, possibly in a trilateral format involving the U.K., France and Germany, he suggested

Previous attempts at negotiation or mediation have failed due to Moscow's uncompromising positions. These include the demand that Kiev must withdraw its army from areas in the eastern Donbass region – comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces – that have not yet been captured by Russia.

Zelenskyy criticized the easing of sanctions against Russia in the face of the oil crisis caused by the US war against Iran.

"Lifting sanctions is a help for the soldiers of Russia," he argued. The easing of sanctions against Moscow has not led to any surprises such as lower global prices for oil, petrol or diesel, according to the Ukrainian president.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 12:21 PM.