Azernews.Az

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on Telegram, Azernews reports.

He recalled a meeting on December 7, 2024, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, the soon-to-be U.S. President, at the Elysee Palace. "We discussed important things on the battlefield in Ukraine and in the global situation, from our front to North Korea," Zelenskyy stated.

The President emphasized Ukraine’s need for a "just and strong peace" that Russia would not destroy in a few years, referencing the Russian actions in Georgia, Moldova, Syria, and even Africa. "Russia brought war to our land. And it is Russia that most of all wants to disrupt the possibility of peace," Zelenskyy added.

He also shared updated figures on Russian losses, which exceed 750,000 people, including 198,000 killed and over 550,000 wounded.

Zelenskyy expressed his nation's determination, stressing that "our people are defending their home at the cost of their lives" and highlighting the importance of frontline medical developments. "One of the key differences between the Russian army and the Ukrainian Defense Forces is the level of development of frontline medicine, which is much higher in our army," he noted.

Additionally, Zelenskyy drew attention to the significant number of Ukrainian prisoners, including military and civilians, some of whom have been held since 2014. He stated that since February 2022, 3,935 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity, urging continued efforts to bring all missing individuals home.

The President also highlighted the plight of children deported by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories, with the Russians reportedly scattering hundreds of thousands of stolen children across their country. "Returning them is the most difficult thing," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Finally, he warned that a ceasefire without guarantees could reignite hostilities, as seen with previous Russian actions. "To ensure that there will be no more losses of Ukrainians, we must guarantee the reliability of peace and not turn a blind eye to the occupation," he said.