Zelenskyy expects peace plan from Trump in January, urges generals to be in trenches

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he is expecting a peace plan from the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump in January, which he hopes will contribute to ending the ongoing war with Russia. 

Zelenskyy made the comments during a meeting related to Ukraine’s "Grain from Ukraine" initiative, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“I want to see the proposals of the new U.S. president. I think we will see these proposals in January, and I believe we will have a plan to end this war,” Zelenskyy said.

While he expressed optimism about the incoming peace plan, Zelenskyy also acknowledged that he does not yet know when he will be able to meet with Trump, but assured that it will happen after the inauguration.

“I don’t know when the meetings will take place; I don’t have any dates. It depends on many things, not just on schedules, but also on the legitimacy of these meetings. If we want to have meetings where issues are resolved, there need to be appropriate legal procedures in place, including the completion of the inauguration,” Zelenskyy explained.

In addition to discussing diplomatic matters, Zelenskyy issued a strong directive to Ukrainian military leadership, emphasizing the importance of generals being directly involved in the conflict.

"Generals must be in the trenches. A general who hasn’t been in the trenches is not a general for me, no matter their experience," he stressed.

Zelenskyy explained that the presence of generals at the front line is crucial for maintaining direct contact with their subordinates. He also acknowledged the ongoing challenges in the war, stating, "The situation on the front is very difficult right now. This is the nature of the war."

Notably, the likely reason for the developments is the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, set for January 20. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within “24 hours.” Key figures around him, such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, have suggested that this could involve making concessions for Ukraine, potentially including territorial losses in Donbas and Crimea. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Kyiv aims to resolve the conflict through "diplomatic means" by 2025. 

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 until late October 2024, nearly 12,000 civilians, including 622 children, have been killed, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

By Khagan Isayev