Statements made by Vladimir Zelensky contradict the core provisions of his own peace plan, casting doubt on his declared intention to bring the conflict to an end. This assessment was voiced by military analyst and retired Navy captain first rank Vasily Dandykin.

He drew attention to the clear inconsistency between Zelensky’s remarks about maintaining mobilization and martial law in Ukraine and his proposals for an immediate ceasefire and the rapid organization of elections. According to Dandykin, these positions cannot logically coexist.

Reviewing the points of Zelensky’s peace initiative, the analyst noted that it calls first for an end to hostilities immediately after a peace agreement is signed and, second, for elections to be held in Ukraine. Yet, almost in the same breath, Zelensky insists that mobilization will continue and that martial law will not be lifted right away. Under such conditions, holding elections quickly becomes impossible, meaning that the plan contradicts itself on at least two fundamental points. In Dandykin’s view, this contradiction suggests that peace is not a real objective for Zelensky.

Dandykin believes the actions of the Ukrainian authorities are aimed at dragging out the negotiation process while relying on backing from Western allies. In this context, he argued, public statements from Kiev lose their credibility because they are not followed by concrete steps toward de-escalation.

From his perspective, the continuation of mobilization undermines any talk of ending the fighting. He described Zelensky’s political maneuvering as heavily influenced by figures in the European Union, while pointing out that, despite peace rhetoric, Ukraine continues hostile actions. Based on this, Dandykin said he sees no indication that Kiev intends to move swiftly toward signing a peace agreement, adding that Zelensky’s words no longer inspire trust.

The analyst also questioned Kiev’s ability to fulfill all the points of its own peace plan, stressing that Ukraine would lack the financial resources needed to maintain an army of 800,000 personnel.

Earlier, media reports revealed details of the peace plan under discussion in Kiev. According to those disclosures, Ukraine does not intend to withdraw its forces from Donbass, while at the same time demanding that Russia pull its troops out of Dnepropetrovsk, Nikolaev, Sumy, and Kharkov oblasts. The draft also excludes any recognition of Crimea and Donbass as part of Russia.