The Ukrainian government is hoping for a peace summit at the end of February around the first anniversary of the invasion.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said President Volodymyr Zelensky is aiming to have a peace summit and hopes to have it at the United Nations with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a possible mediator.

Mr Kuleba said he was"absolutely satisfied" with Zelensky's visit to the US last week.

Kuleba said Ukraine will do whatever it can to win the war in 2023, adding that diplomacy always plays an important role.

He said: "Every war ends in a diplomatic way.

"Every war ends as a result of the actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a speech in the US (
Image:
Jemal Countess/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)

Kuleba said the Ukrainian government would like to have a peace summit by the end of February.

He said: "The United Nations could be the best venue for holding this summit because this is not about making a favour to a certain country.

"This is really about bringing everyone on board."

It isn't clear if Russia will be part of the peace summit.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions (
Image:
Libkos/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

When asked about it, Mr Kuleba said Russia needs to be seated to be prosecuted for war crimes at an international court.

He said: "They can only be invited to this step in this way."

He also downplayed comments that Russian authorities say they are ready for negotiations.

He said: "They regularly say that they are ready for negotiations, which is not true, because everything they do on the battlefield proves the opposite."

Ukrainian soldiers adjust a national flag atop a personnel armoured carrier on a road near Lyman, Donetsk region (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

It comes after Zelensky told Americans that Ukraine "against all odds" is "alive and kicking".

During his speech in Congress in Washington DC, he thanked Americans for their support as he received thunderous applause from lawmakers before making his address to a joint session of Congress.

"I hope my words of gratitude resonate in each American's heart," the president began as he said it was a "great honour" to speak in the chamber.

Video Loading

"Against all odds, doom and gloom, Ukraine didn't fall, Ukraine is alive and kicking," he said.

The United States has responded to Zelensky's defiant trip by pledging more money to assist Ukraine to pursue a "just peace".

During the address to Congress, Zelensky declared that Ukraine "will never surrender" and warned that the stakes of the conflict were greater than just the fate of his nation - that democracy worldwide is being tested.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a speech (
Image:
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"This battle cannot be ignored, hoping that the ocean or something else will provide protection," he said, speaking in English for what he had billed as a "speech to Americans."

He added: "Our two nations are allies in this battle and next year will be a turning point, I know it."

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More