US President Donald Trump’s peace initiatives to end Russia’s war against Ukraine are gradually gaining momentum. After the US President’s meeting with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in Alaska and talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington, there is talk of direct Ukrainian-Russian talks at the level of heads of state.

Back in early summer, Putin categorically rejected the possibility of talks with Zelensky. And now they are going to organize their meeting within two weeks! And then it is planned to organize a trilateral meeting of the heads of the US, Ukraine and Russia. It must be admitted that the owner of the White House is making extraordinary efforts to reconcile the aggressor and the victim of aggression.

But does this mean an early and unconditional end to the war? No.

We must remember that this war was started by Russia in February 2022, and it is she who has been making exorbitant demands on Ukraine from the very beginning. Peace on Russian terms is impossible, because Moscow cannot force Kyiv to surrender. Let us remember: the Russian offensive has not yielded results.  

Neither side can force the other to surrender. Under such conditions, a peace agreement is possible only as a result of a compromise, which will be difficult and painful for both sides. Therefore, freezing the conflict seems much more likely. But freezing the conflict is also possible only under certain prerequisites. At least two key questions remain open at the moment:

- what concessions are both sides ready to make?
- what will be the security guarantees for Ukraine?

In any case, the main guarantee of security and state independence of Ukraine was, is and will remain the strong and powerful Defense Forces of Ukraine and, above all, the battle-hardened Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is emphasized by both President Zelensky and Ukraine's international partners, who continue to financially and militarily assist Kyiv.

And the modern Ukrainian army includes foreign volunteers. The struggle for the right of Ukrainians to live in their own independent state continues. Ukraine continues to invite foreign volunteers to the ranks of its army. The Ukrainian military continues to be ready to teach them the methods of modern warfare and jointly stand in defense of freedom and justice.