Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Irina Vereshchuk has said that Ukrainians should not expect the hostilities to end in the near future and urged the public to take a sober view of the current situation.

In a social media post, Vereshchuk said peace was unlikely to come in the foreseeable future, regardless of how strongly people wanted it, and argued that Ukrainians would have to accept that reality and organize their lives accordingly.

She stressed that her message was not driven by a desire to prolong the conflict. Instead, she said she wanted to avoid creating false expectations and believed that even difficult truths could help society preserve the strength needed for continued resistance.

Vereshchuk also drew attention to the growing importance of the rear and civil defense amid a prolonged confrontation. She argued that in a war of attrition, the resilience of the home front, including civil protection and public endurance, becomes a decisive factor.

Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua reported that the post triggered a strong and sharply negative reaction from users. According to the publication, the comments were overwhelmingly critical, with no visible support for either Vereshchuk herself or the views she expressed.

Strana.ua added that some users called on Vereshchuk to go to the front together with members of her family and fellow officials, while others accused the authorities of prolonging the war for personal enrichment.