Zelenskyy prepares for continued war despite peace rhetoric — video interview

“I think President Zelenskyy, although he spent the entire past year repeating that we are closer to peace than ever before — and that is his direct quote, which he repeated several times — perfectly understands that we will most likely have to keep fighting," Osadchuk said in an interview.

"And the longer this goes on, the harder it becomes for us to fight.”

He described the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as head of the  Presidential Office as an acknowledgment that “Ukraine must fight, rather than continue populist rhetoric about peace,” and as a sign of Zelenskyy’s recognition of reality.

On Jan. 2, President Zelenskyy proposed that Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov take over as head of the Office of the President. Budanov accepted the offer.

On Jan. 5, Zelenskyy included Budanov in the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

On Jan. 7, Zelenskyy said the war could end during Cyprus’s presidency of the EU Council, noting that each country holds the presidency for six months.

On Jan. 9, Zelenskyy expressed hope that Russia will respond to the peace plan by the end of the month.