Putin was joking about election support for Harris, Kremlin says; Zelenskyy hopes to meet with Trump next week
NBCSep 23
Zelenskyy: War With Russia is 'Closer to an End' Than Many Believe
story
Above: Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the UN headquarters in New York, United States, on September 23, 2024. Image copyright: Ukraine's Presidential Press Service/Anadolu/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
In an interview with ABC News released on Monday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he thinks that the war with Russia is "closer to an end" than many believe.
Zelenskyy made the remarks as he arrived in the US ahead of two days of UN General Assembly meetings. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet US Pres. Joe Biden on Thursday and brief him on Ukraine's "victory plan" — Zelenskyy's vision for bringing the two-and-a-half-year conflict to a close.
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Russia will only negotiate a peace deal when it's on the back foot and at risk of losing the war. That's why it's imperative to make Ukraine's hand as strong as possible by lifting weapons restrictions and other measures.
Pro-Russia narrative
The war will inevitably end with peace, but only when Russia achieves the aims it has set itself. This includes Ukraine's neutral status, its deradicalization, as well as its acceptance that four regions voted in a referendum to be part of Russian territory.
