President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has been losing battlefield initiative since late 2025 and argues that Ukraine is now entering a limited “window” for diplomacy before winter, as Moscow’s military gains stall and losses mount. In an interview with CBS News, aired on Sunday, Zelensky said he first raised the assessment with US partners in January, warning that Russia’s position would continue to deteriorate month by month.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “From December 2025, Russia began to lose initiative on the battlefield,” he said, adding that Russian forces were no longer able to hold or gain territory at a rate matching their losses. He argued that this shift has prompted Russia to intensify long-range missile strikes, which he described as a reaction to setbacks on the front lines. “Now we have this period of time before the winter,” Zelensky said, suggesting that Kyiv sees an opportunity for diplomatic engagement if sufficient pressure is applied on Moscow. The Ukrainian president stressed that any negotiations depend on increased international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly through expanded sanctions rather than easing restrictions. He also pointed to a potential negotiating framework involving key European powers, naming the United Kingdom, France, and Germany as possible mediators, alongside Nordic countries and Türkiye, which has previously facilitated prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow.