Fighters in Ukraine Remain Resolute Against Surrender Amid Waning Morale
Despite a sense of hope that a deal may be imminent, many Ukrainian fighters remain steadfast in their refusal to surrender. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed optimism that the war may end sooner with Trump in the White House, but this sentiment is not shared by all.
“We can’t surrender,” said US Army veteran Miro Popovich, a Ukrainian American combat volunteer who has fought on or near the front lines since the war began. “We can’t surrender territory, we can’t surrender people, because our existence is on the line once again.”
According to a recent Gallup poll, 52% of Ukrainians want to see their country negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible, with many feeling less hopeful about the future than a year earlier. Morale is low, and Ukraine’s troops have been on the defensive for months as Russia’s military pushes to retake lost territory or seize new land.
However, Ukraine is eager to enter negotiations from a position of strength. A source in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine revealed that Ukraine still controls over 300 square miles of Russia’s Kursk region, and that airstrikes deep inside Russian territory are helping to destroy Russia’s military infrastructure.
Trump’s comments on seeking a rapid resolution to the conflict have raised fears that his return to power will favor the Kremlin.