Support The Moscow Times!

Zelensky Claims Russian Advance in Ukraine ‘Halted'

@DefenceU / X

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Russian advances had been "halted" in Ukraine and the situation was now "much better" for his troops than in recent months.

"The Russian advance has been halted," Zelensky told French broadcaster BFM TV.

"Our command, our military has stopped the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine," he said.

Kyiv has faced mounting pressure on the front line in recent months, losing ground to Moscow amid hold-ups to Western aid from its biggest ally Washington.

Zelensky said Monday: "I can give you this fresh piece of information: The situation is now much better than during these past three months."

The Ukrainian leader also said that Ukraine was in the process of building "over 1,000 kilometers" of fortifications.

"When we talk about fortifications, we're talking about an ongoing process," he said. "We're not talking about a few kilometers, or hundreds of kilometers, but more than 1,000 kilometers of construction," he said.

"It's a very complex task. They must be solid and resistant to changes in the climate [...] but also resistant to whatever military hardware is used against these defensive lines," he said.

In reference to a comment by French President Emmanuel Macron, who last month said that sending French troops to Ukraine was not ruled out, Zelensky said: "As long as Ukraine holds, the French army can stay on French territory."

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more