**Zelensky's Summit Hopes Dashed as Ukrainian Soldiers Doubt Breakthrough**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hopes for a breakthrough at a summit in Switzerland this weekend are met with skepticism by soldiers on the front lines and war-weary citizens in Kyiv.
The conference, attended by representatives from 90 countries and global institutions, comes at a perilous time for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian forces for over two years.
Sergiy, a 36-year-old deputy commander of a tank brigade in the fiercely contested Donetsk region, expressed skepticism that the summit would improve the situation on the ground. "Politics is politics," he told AFP, suggesting that a real breakthrough would likely come from military action rather than diplomacy.
Danylo, a 23-year-old drone operator, echoed Sergiy's sentiment, stating that the summit would not bring about "drastic" changes. "It's probably more of a symbolic event," he said.
Ukrainian forces have been losing ground in Donetsk and Kharkiv, with Russian attacks forcing authorities to announce mandatory civilian evacuations.
The army has launched a mobilization drive, raising fears among the population that family members will be sent to the front lines.
In Kyiv, 36-year-old Victoria, who works in the energy industry, expressed exhaustion from the war and tempered expectations for the summit. "I don't have high hopes," she said.
Zelensky has stated that one of the key points to be discussed at the summit is the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war. However, soldiers on the front lines remain focused on their immediate goal: coming home alive.
Oleksandr, a 22-year-old information security specialist, believes that the war will ultimately be decided on the battlefield. "I believe that the war will end in a brutal military way," he told AFP.
As the summit begins, Ukrainian soldiers and citizens alike remain skeptical that it will bring about a breakthrough in the conflict.
The focus remains on the battlefield, where Ukrainian forces continue to fight against Russian aggression.
