Panic in Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky warns war with Russia must end by 2025

Zelensky (Image: Getty)

The war between Ukraine and Russia will “end sooner” than it otherwise would have done once US president elect Donald Trump enters the White House again, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

The President of Ukraine also said his country must ensure the war ends "next year". And he admitted that Russian forces are making territorial gains.

Zelensky said he and Trump had a “constructive exchange” during a phone call after the latter's victory in the US presidential election. Zelensky said Trump did not say anything contrary to Ukraine’s position over the war.

Donald Trump's election will ensure the war ends more quickly, said Zelensky (Image: Getty)

"He heard the basis on which we stand," said Zelensky. "I did not hear anything contrary to our position."

Previously, Trump has said ending the war - and military aid that he describes as a drain on US resources - is his priority.

Now, in an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelensky has said the war will end more quickly under a Trump administration.

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House," said Zelensky. "This is their approach, their promise to their citizens."

Putin's army is making gains - but it is also said to be in disarray (Image: Getty)

He then said that Ukraine "must do everything so that this war ends next year, ends through diplomatic means", reported the BBC. 

When asked if Trump had demanded that Ukraine negotiate a peace deal with Vladimir Putin's Russia, Zelensky suggested neither he nor his country would be pushed into doing anything against their wishes.

Zelenksy said: "During this war, both our people and I personally, in negotiations with the U.S. — with Trump, Biden, and European leaders — have shown that the rhetoric of 'Sit down and listen' does not work with us."

The war must end next year, said Zelensky (Image: Getty)

Zelensky's comments come after a think tank claimed Ukraine could build a basic nuclear bomb - and drop it on Russia - if Donald Trump withdraws US military aid.

However, a defence analyst has warned that Putin may be left with no other option but to use his nuclear weapons if the war drags on much longer and Russian military and economic resources become exhausted.

While Russia is said to be making territorial gains as the war rages on, A Russian soldier described apocalyptic scenes of death and destruction, with dead bodies piled so high they were blocking paths of retreat.

Putin's army was said to be in disarray after a disastrous attempt to storm the Kursk River led to heavy losses.