The war with Russia is “closer to the end” than many think, said Volodymyr Zelensky during an interview with ABC News, once again urging allies to further strengthen the Ukrainian army.

“The plan for victory is to bolster Ukraine. Therefore, we ask our friends, our allies to support us. This is very important,” said the Ukrainian president, adding: “I believe we are closer to peace than we think. We are closer to the end of the war.”

Additionally, Zelensky stated that Putin fears the operation in Kursk, which is being carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“It’s true. He is very afraid,” noted the Ukrainian president, adding that “even his own people have seen his inability to defend their territory.”

Zelensky further stated that only by strengthening its position can Ukraine “pressure Putin to end the war.”

The Ukrainian president is in the United States, participating in the activities of the 79th UN General Assembly. He also plans to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden, as well as presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, to present his “victory plan.”

Kremlin’s Response

Commenting on Zelensky’s remarks about the end of the conflict in Ukraine, the spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, stated that every war ends in one way or another, leading to peace, but that Russia does not have an alternative solution to achieve its goals.

“You know that every war ultimately leads to peace in one way or another. But for us, achieving our stated goals is absolutely the only alternative,” said Peskov in response to a question from journalists.