In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian in London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared upbeat, asserting that Europe's largest conflict since World War II is gradually turning in Kyiv's favor. More than four years after Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy described the military situation as the most promising for Ukraine in two and a half years. 'We can't say Russia is losing this war. But we can say they are losing the initiative each day, day by day,' he stated.
Recent Setbacks for Russia
Over the past week, the Kremlin has faced a series of setbacks. Long-range Ukrainian drones struck Putin's hometown of St. Petersburg, igniting oil terminals and sending smoke over the skyline. Similar attacks crippled occupied Crimea, where a key supply road is littered with burning lorries and tankers, causing severe fuel shortages on the peninsula seized by Russia in 2014.
On the eastern battlefield, Russia's grinding advance has nearly halted. Zelenskyy, who has consistently maintained since 2022 that sufficient support can enable Ukraine to defend itself, reported that the Kremlin is losing over 30,000 soldiers monthly, with 23,000 to 24,000 killed and the rest heavily wounded. The true figure may be even higher. 'Totally, this is a very big number. It means that they are not winning the war,' he emphasized. Ukraine has also suffered losses, though on a smaller scale.
Continued Aerial Attacks
Despite the stalled ground offensive, Russia has intensified aerial attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities, apparently aiming to terrorize civilians. One attack last Tuesday featured 73 missiles and 656 drones, killing 18 people in Kyiv and Dnipro, including a three-year-old boy entombed under rubble. According to Kyiv's mayor, Russian forces are deliberately using cluster munitions in built-up areas.
Last week, Zelenskyy wrote an open letter to Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting to de-escalate the conflict. Speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin rejected the offer, calling the letter 'rude' and reiterating territorial demands for the Donbas region and two southern Ukrainian provinces. He insisted Russian forces were advancing across all frontlines, telling them, 'Keep working, brothers.'
Putin's Lies and Isolation
Putin's intransigence has led some to question his grasp on reality. Zelenskyy suggested theories of delusion or misinformation are plausible but stressed that 'the reason he's lying doesn't matter.' Putin has lied about the war from the start, claiming it was necessary to 'rescue' Russian speakers. His lies serve as glue to bind Russian society, Zelenskyy believes.
Internationally, Russia has suffered political defeats. In April, Putin's closest European ally, Viktor Orbán, was defeated in Hungary's general election. Recent Russian efforts to support pro-Kremlin candidates in Moldova and Armenia also failed. 'They are losing influence in different countries, including in Azerbaijan,' Zelenskyy noted. 'They are isolated inside Europe and from the United States also. So they are alone.'
Trump and US Relations
Donald Trump began his second term in 2025 vowing to end the war. Zelenskyy has carefully praised US diplomatic efforts despite a bruising Oval Office encounter, a summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska, and cuts to US aid. 'I always said to President Trump that Putin is lying. He plays games with you, with the White House,' Zelenskyy said, adding gratitude for American support.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Washington's focus has shifted to the Middle East. 'Of course, from the very beginning of the war with Iran their focus shifted,' he said of the Trump administration. He understands why the US has used 'so many missiles and weapons' in its conflict with Tehran but wistfully noted that Kyiv never received 'that volume of support' unlike Gulf allies and Israel. 'It's a pity,' he said.
Ukraine as a Drone Superpower
Since 2022, Ukraine has transformed into a drone superpower, evolving from a supplicant for Western aid into a hub for military industrial production and innovation. Several Arab countries have sought its help in shooting down Iranian Shahed drones. The most critical weapon Ukraine now lacks, Zelenskyy said, is US-made Patriot systems, the only ones capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles that rain down on sleeping civilians nightly.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy held talks in Downing Street with Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. He renewed a call for European allies to 'close' Ukraine's skies, helping fend off large-scale drone and missile attacks. He also sought financial support to transform Ukraine's mobilized forces into a European-style contract army.
European Cooperation and Drone Expertise
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Patriot missiles are expensive, costing $4 million each. The UK lacks its own antiballistic missile program. He believes London, Paris, Berlin, and other EU states should collaborate to build an alternative to the US version. In return, Ukraine is ready to share its hard-won drone warfare experience. 'The UK is among them. And NATO is very interested in it. This is priceless information. There is a huge volume of it,' he said.
Crimea and Long-Range Strikes
Zelenskyy was reluctant to discuss future operations but noted that long- and mid-range drone attacks have made the return of Crimea, annexed in 2014, a distant possibility. Ukrainian forces are destroying the peninsula's logistics and hitting military and energy targets across occupied southern Ukraine. 'It's all about critical infrastructure. This helps them to militarize our Crimea. We are working on it,' he added.
For many Russians, the war has been distant. Zelenskyy said long-range strikes near Moscow and St. Petersburg aim to make residents 'feel' the war. 'Victory in this war is when Russian society recognizes that the war is awful, that the war is a tragedy not for someone, somewhere, but for themselves. And I think this is the momentum,' he said.
Meetings with Oligarchs and the King
In May, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich secretly traveled to Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy said he told Abramovich he would never give up the Donbas region. 'I think there are different people around Putin. Half of them want to continue this war. Half want to stop. And I think that people who are from business, they understand that the economy is in a terrible situation in Russia. It's very close to collapse,' he explained.
Zelenskyy spoke to the Guardian shortly before meeting King Charles, with whom he has developed a warm relationship. The monarch reportedly urged Donald Trump during his UK state visit last year to support Ukraine. When asked if the king might one day visit Kyiv, Zelenskyy grinned and nodded enthusiastically. 'You know today in the morning when I spoke by phone with my wife [Olena], with all respect to Keir [Starmer], my wife said best regards to the king. And then to the prime minister,' he confessed. 'Ukraine loves his majesty. I would like to invite him to Kyiv very much. Maybe this year. I don't know from the point of security but of course we want to see him.'
