Zelensky ordered officials to prepare for two to three more years of conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed officials to prepare for two to three more years of conflict.

This is reported by the Telegram channel Insider UA, citing government sources, and by The Economist, also citing sources in the Ukrainian government.

Insider UA cites as reasons for the order the effective collapse of peace negotiations, the gradual withdrawal of the United States from the settlement process, and Russia’s “refusal” of a “compromise” with Kyiv. The outlet also notes that Russia allegedly intends to reach the borders of Donbas by autumn.

This is not the first such signal from Ukrainian leadership. In February, Wall Street Journal journalist Boyan Pancevski reported that, following the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky had ordered the development of a plan to conduct the conflict with Russia for another three years.

At the same time, on May 25, Olha Vasylevska-Smahliuk, a member of the Servant of the People faction in the Verkhovna Rada, wrote that at a meeting with members of parliament Zelensky spoke of a possible end to the “hot phase” of the conflict before November. A source at RBK-Ukraine also reported that the United States wants to “calm down” the crisis before the congressional elections, which will be held on November 3, 2026.

A source at Ukrainska Pravda specified that at the same meeting with deputies, Zelensky stated his intention to bring Russia to a state of readiness for “real negotiations” within six months.