Fedorov outlines Zelenskyy’s objectives to pressure Russia to halt the war
Mykhailo Fedorov and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting on January 5, 2026 (Photo: Zelenskiy Official / Telegram)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set clear objectives aimed at forcing Russia to halt its war against Ukraine, including inflicting heavy personnel losses on the enemy as a key step toward that goal, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said during a meeting with media on Jan. 20.
“The president has set a clear task: to build a system capable of stopping the enemy in the air, halting advances on the ground, strengthening asymmetric and cyberstrikes against the enemy and its economy, and making the cost of war for Russia something it cannot sustain. In this way, to force peace through strength,” Fedorov said.
He noted that diplomats have their own track, while the Defense Ministry is doing its work in parallel.
“We want to change the paradigm that the Defense Ministry is only about procurement and logistics. It is about civilian oversight and coordination. We need the right dialogue and the right synchronization,” the minister explained.
Fedorov pointed to the need for clear objectives, saying a system without them cannot function effectively.
“That is why management is the first task. Management must be built around those who are capable of achieving defined goals,” Fedorov said.
He also stressed that people who do not demonstrate results cannot be part of this system.
“The second strategic goal is to kill 50,000 Russians per month. Last month, 35,000 were killed — all of these losses are verified on video. If we reach the figure of 50,000, we will see what happens to the enemy. They view people as a resource, and problems with that resource are already evident,” the defense minister said.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Fedorov as defense minister on Jan. 14.
A day earlier, lawmakers dismissed him from his post as first deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation at his request.
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