Russia seeking not peace but respite to restore might - Zelensky

Russia is now trying to secure a short truce only to restore combat capabilities, so this is not the path to actually ending the war.

That’s according to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who addressed the International Security Forum in Halifax via videoconference.

"The cessation of war as such doesn’t guarantee peace. Russia is now looking for a short truce, a respite to regain strength. Some may call it the end of war, but such a pause will only make things worse," the president assured.

He emphasized that any idea of territorial concessions or those related to Ukraine’s sovereignty cannot be considered “peace.”

"Amoral compromises would lead to new bloodshed. A real lasting and actual peace can only be the result of the complete destruction of Russian aggression," Zelensky said.

The head of state reminded the participants in the forum about the 10-point peace plan put forward by Ukraine. "Peace is possible, but for it to become a reality we must disallow all the components of Russian aggression. Let's do this. Let peace reign," the president emphasized.

It should be recalled that the Halifax International Security Forum is one of the world's leading platforms for discussing international policy issues. It is held annually in the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.