Ukraine Envoy Sees War Ending Within Months, Cites Russian Economic Woes

Ukraine's ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, stated in an interview with Ynet on Tuesday, September 8, that Kyiv believes the war with Russia could conclude within the coming months, potentially making the current winter the last one fought.

Korniychuk suggested that a ceasefire, rather than a full peace agreement, is the most likely outcome. He attributed this potential end to Russia's deteriorating economic situation and its diminishing capacity to fund the conflict. "I cannot say that I already see the light at the end of the tunnel and the final end of the war. But our leaders believe that it can stop in the coming months and that this will be its last winter," Korniychuk said.

The ambassador also linked Ukraine's hopes to the recent visit of U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Ukraine. He described their talks in Kyiv as "very positive," though he cautioned against expecting immediate results. This visit marked the first time American representatives of various levels had engaged in such negotiations in Kyiv since the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Korniychuk noted that during the U.S. delegation's visit, Kyiv experienced three days without Russian attacks, allowing residents to "sleep a little at night."

Korniychuk drew a parallel between the Trump administration's efforts to broker peace in the Middle East and its attempts to resolve the war in Ukraine. One proposal discussed involved designating unoccupied territories in Donbas as neutral zones, an idea that received positive feedback in Ukrainian society and is hoped to advance a ceasefire. He also mentioned Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and oil infrastructure, asserting that President Volodymyr Zelensky's threat to "close" Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sochi airports has already impacted Russian aviation, with some airlines suspending flights. The goal, he explained, is to increase pressure on Russian society to demand an end to the war, making them feel what Ukraine has experienced for the past four and a half years.

Further contributing to the war's potential end is the weakening Russian economy, with Korniychuk claiming that about half of Russia's oil refineries have ceased operations, leading to fuel shortages. "I personally believe that the war will stop if the Russians no longer have money to finance it. The Russian economy has already begun to suffer," the ambassador stated. However, he acknowledged the possibility of Putin using winter to intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukraine faces a shortage of air defense systems but expects deliveries from European countries, including discussions during the Witkoff and Kushner visit about a "winter package" involving Patriot systems. France and Italy are reportedly subsidizing alternative systems, and Kyiv has secured European funding for its own interception technology development.