Zelensky: Ukraine and the West can make Russia's defeat "final" this year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Kiev and its Western backers could make Russia's defeat in his country's war "final" this year, and thanked Germany for its military support.

Ukraine's president told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Kiev would always be grateful to Germany for its support during Russia's all-out war.

"Now is the time to put an end to the war this year, we can already make the defeat of the aggressor final this year."

Ukraine is expected to begin major counteroffensive operations in the coming weeks in a bid to retake its territory in the east and south from Russian forces that launched all-out war in February last year.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready to discuss initiatives by other countries to bring peace to his country, but added that those proposals should be based on Kiev's position and peace plan.

"The war is going on on our territory, so any peace plan will be based on Ukraine's proposals," he said.

Scholz told the conference that Ukraine was ready for peace, but that in no way meant freezing the conflict and accepting a deal dictated by Russia.

"Russia has to withdraw its troops, it won't work any other way."