President Zelensky Wants Ukraine To Focus More On War, Ready For Long Term?

President Zelensky is with Ukrainian military leaders. (President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky and his allies urged Ukraine on Monday to remain focused on the war that has been going on for 18 months since the Russian invasion, an indication authorities in Kyiv are preparing for a long campaign.

President Zelensky has long called for a greater focus on war efforts, pledging to intensify a crackdown on corruption as part of Ukraine's efforts to join the European Union.

The campaign prompted the sacking of Ukraine's defense minister last week, as well as the detention of a business figure who was President Zelensky's mentor on charges of fraud.

However, calls from President Zelensky and his aides are now getting louder, as the Ukrainian military is carrying out stable, but relatively slow retaliatory attacks, in Russian-occupied areas.

"Although today is the 565th day of this war, everyone should focus on national defense, as in the early days," President Zelensky said in his evening video message.

"Russia doesn't expect to win. The enemy just hopes that we won't survive. Ukraine must stand firm. Everything that strengthens us is a priority, the only priority. There should be no weakening. We will not let anyone weaken Ukraine," President Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky's chairman of the Servant of the People Party in parliament confirmed this by saying the president could no longer be responsible for "rock, stadiums, tennis courts and other trash".

"Starting from the new year, this country should turn to a 'war time budget' where there will be no more spending on things like this," David Arakhamia said on Telegram.

"Only defense and only weapons," he said.

It is known that the retaliatory attacks of Ukraine launched in June have concentrated on securing village groups in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

Ukrainian troops have captured several regions, but far less than the progress made last year.

Meanwhile, the Russian military did not show any signs of stopping in its campaign which it said faced "States collectively".

President Zelensky himself has rejected criticism in Western media, which says this retaliatory attack is too slow. However, he stressed, he believes the campaign will last a long time.

In an interview with the Economist published on weekends, President Zelensky said there could be no illusion that victory would come "tomorrow or the day after tomorrow".

"But it's also not a dream," he said.

The war will continue "as long as Russia is still in Ukrainian territory" and Ukraine rejects the long-standing "frozen conflict" in other Soviet breakouts, he said.