Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian defense forces have reclaimed 590 kilometers of territory. In a statement made on May 22, he emphasized the strengthening of Ukrainian positions compared to previous years.
“Ukrainian positions are stronger now than in previous years. Since the beginning of the year, we have liberated and secured 590 kilometers of our territory. The trend is certainly not in favor of the occupier. We continue to increase the destruction of Russian personnel, which, along with sanctions of all kinds, forces Russia to consider diplomacy,” Zelensky stated.
He also shared intelligence regarding Russian military and political plans with Ukraine’s partners, including France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
“We must do everything possible to activate diplomacy now. I expect a response from the American side regarding possible formats and schedules for meetings,” Zelensky added.
On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that the United States is not interested in an endless cycle of unproductive negotiations concerning the war in Ukraine.
“If we see an opportunity to organize negotiations that are productive rather than counterproductive and have a chance of being fruitful, we are ready to play that role. Currently, such negotiations are not taking place, but we hope that will change, as this war can only end through diplomatic resolution,” he remarked.
Ukrainian President Zelensky reported significant territorial gains by Ukrainian forces, reclaiming 590 kilometers since the start of 2026. He called for enhanced diplomatic efforts while U.S. officials indicated a desire for productive negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict.