Zelensky said in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday from the president’s office in Kyiv that his country has no guarantee that Russia will not try to take Kyiv again if it manages to take Donbas. “That is why it is very important for us not to allow them to stand in our place, because this battle… could affect the course of the whole war,” Zelenski said. “Because I do not trust the Russian army and the Russian leadership,” he said. “That is why we understand that the fact that we fought them and they left, and they were running away from Kyiv – from the north, from Chernihiv and from that direction – does not mean that they are able to occupy Donbas, they will not go. more to Kyiv “. Zelensky’s interview with CNN on Friday, more than seven weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, comes as the Ukrainian military has seen success in resisting a Russian attack that surprised US intelligence – and a Kremlin that had planned a quick and decisive victory. At the same time, Ukraine has suffered horrific civilian casualties across the country amid fighting. Zelensky told CNN that people should be prepared for the possibility of Putin using a regular nuclear weapon because he does not value the lives of Ukrainians. Zelensky spoke in both Ukrainian and English about the horror his country has seen and the urgent need that his army still needs to equip itself to repel the impending Russian attack on eastern and southern Ukraine. US President Joe Biden said last week that the killing of civilians by Russian forces appeared to be genocide. “I have the same view as President Biden,” Zelensky said. “Look at what happened in Bucha. It is clear that it is not even war, it is genocide. They just killed people. Not soldiers, people. They just shot people in the streets. People rode bicycles, took the bus or just got off. There were corpses in the streets.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who has diplomatically bound Putin, said in response to Biden’s comments on the genocide that he did not consider it constructive to raise rhetoric. Zelensky said he spoke to Macron last week and wants to visit Ukraine to see the horrors firsthand. “I think he wants to take some steps to ensure that Russia engages in dialogue. I just told him that I want him to understand that this is not a war, but nothing more than genocide,” Zelensky said. “I invited him to come when he has the opportunity. He will come to see and I am sure he will understand.” Zelensky said he also wanted Biden to come to Ukraine. The US president suggested last week that he wanted to leave, although he said US officials were still “in talks” over whether a senior US official would visit Ukraine. “I think he will do it,” Zelensky said of Biden when asked if there were any plans for the president to visit. “I mean, his decision, of course. And also, the security situation depends – I mean – but I think he’s the leader of the United States, and that’s why he has to come here to see.” Zelensky was moved to speak of the deaths caused by the war in Ukraine, saying it was “a great pain for me” to see lives lost. Zelensky, who lost his family in the Holocaust, was asked what he thinks of politicians around the world who say “never again” on World Holocaust Remembrance Day, given what is happening in his country. “I do not believe in the world,” he said in English. “We do not believe the words. After the escalation of Russia, we do not believe our neighbors. We do not believe all this.” “The only belief that exists is the belief in ourselves, in our people, in our Armed Forces and in the belief that countries will support us not only in their words but also in their actions,” Zelensky continued in Ukrainian. “And this is it. Never again. Really, everyone talks about it and yet, as you can see, not everyone has the guts.”
More help is needed
Zelensky said the additional $ 800 million that Biden approved last week to go to Ukraine for new and more advanced weapons was useful – but needed even more. “Of course we need more. But I’m glad he’s helping us now,” Zelensky said. “I feel we have a clearer dialogue right now. It was a dialogue that had some twists and turns. And not just talking. It was very, very difficult because there are not many countries that have really helped us.” Zelensky said the most important factor was the speed with which the necessary weapons came into the hands of Ukrainian forces. He dismissed some concerns expressed by the United States and other countries that Ukrainian soldiers were not trained to use some of the weapons requested by the country. “There are people who offer solutions, but they seem to be just self-serving. Therefore, it is not exactly up to us,” Zelensky said. “We are ready to use any type of equipment, but it must be delivered very quickly. And we have the ability to learn how to use new equipment. But it must come quickly.” Zelensky said he was ready to work with Russia diplomatically to try to end the war, but that Russia’s attacks on Ukrainians made it more difficult. “As I said before, what is the price of all this? It’s the people. The many people who have been killed. And who ultimately pays for it all? It’s Ukraine. Only us,” Zelensky said. “Well, for us, this is a really big cost. If there is an opportunity to speak, we will speak. But to speak only under a Russian ultimatum? Then it is a question of attitude towards us, not of whether the dialogue is ‘Good or bad.’ It’s impossible.” Acknowledging that he still has a target on his back from the Kremlin as the war rages, Zelensky was asked how he would like to be remembered. “A man who loved life to the fullest,” he replied. “And he loved his family and he loved his homeland. He’s definitely not a hero. I want people to take me as I am. A normal person.” This story has been updated with additional details.
title: “Exclusive Zelensky Says Ukraine Won T Give Up Territory In The East To End War With Russia " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Vernon Edmond”
“That is why it is very important for us not to allow them to stand in our place, because this battle… could affect the course of the whole war,” Zelenski said. “Because I do not trust the Russian army and the Russian leadership,” he said. “That is why we understand that the fact that we fought them and they left, and they were running away from Kyiv – from the north, from Chernihiv and from that direction – does not mean that they are able to occupy Donbas, they will not go. more to Kyiv “. Zelensky’s interview with CNN on Friday, more than seven weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, comes as the Ukrainian military has seen success in resisting a Russian attack that surprised US intelligence – and a Kremlin that had planned a quick and decisive victory. Asked by Tapper if Ukraine would be a winner in the conflict, Zelensky said: “Yes, of course, and it will.” At the same time, however, Ukraine has suffered horrific civilian casualties across the country amid fighting. Zelensky told CNN that people should be prepared for the possibility of Putin using a regular nuclear weapon because he does not value the lives of Ukrainians. Zelensky spoke in both Ukrainian and English about the horror his country has seen and the urgent need for his army to be equipped to repel the impending Russian attack on eastern and southern Ukraine. US President Joe Biden said last week that the killing of civilians by Russian forces appeared to be genocide. “I have the same view as President Biden,” Zelensky said. “Look at what happened in Bucha. It is clear that it is not even war, it is genocide. They just killed people. Not soldiers, people. They just shot people in the streets. People rode bicycles, took the bus or just got off. There were corpses in the streets.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who has diplomatically bound Putin, said in response to Biden’s comments on the genocide that he did not consider it constructive to raise rhetoric. Zelensky said he spoke to Macron last week and wants to visit Ukraine to see the horrors firsthand. “I think he wants to take some steps to ensure that Russia engages in dialogue. I just told him that I want him to understand that this is not a war, but nothing more than genocide,” Zelensky said. “I invited him to come when he has the opportunity. He will come to see and I am sure he will understand.” Zelensky said he also wanted Biden to come to Ukraine. The US president suggested last week that he wanted to leave, although he said US officials were still “in talks” over whether a senior US official would visit Ukraine. “I think he will do it,” Zelensky said of Biden when asked if there were any plans for the president to visit. “I mean, his decision, of course. And also, the security situation depends – I mean – but I think he’s the leader of the United States, and that’s why he has to come here to see.” Asked about a video released last week showing a Ukrainian woman finding her son’s body in a well, Zelensky said: “This is the most horrific thing I have ever seen in my life.” He was moved to speak out about the deaths caused by the war in Ukraine, saying it was “a great pain for me” to see lives lost. Zelensky, who lost his family in the Holocaust, was asked what he thinks of politicians around the world who say “never again” on World Holocaust Remembrance Day, given what is happening in his country. “I do not believe in the world,” he said in English. “We do not believe the words. After the escalation of Russia, we do not believe our neighbors. We do not believe all this.” “The only belief that exists is the belief in ourselves, in our people, in our Armed Forces and in the belief that countries will support us not only in their words but also in their actions,” Zelensky continued in Ukrainian. “And this is it. Never again. Really, everyone talks about it and yet, as you can see, not everyone has the guts.”
More help is needed
Zelensky said the additional $ 800 million that Biden approved last week to go to Ukraine for new and more advanced weapons was useful – but needed even more. “Of course we need more. But I’m glad he’s helping us now,” Zelensky said. “I feel we have a clearer dialogue right now. It was a dialogue that had some twists and turns. And not just talking. It was very, very difficult because there are not many countries that have really helped us.” Zelensky said the most important factor was the speed with which the necessary weapons came into the hands of Ukrainian forces. He dismissed some concerns expressed by the United States and other countries that Ukrainian soldiers were not trained to use some of the weapons requested by the country. “There are people who offer solutions, but they seem to be just self-serving. Therefore, it is not exactly up to us,” Zelensky said. “We are ready to use any type of equipment, but it must be delivered very quickly. And we have the ability to learn how to use new equipment. But it must come quickly.” Zelensky said he was ready to work with Russia diplomatically to try to end the war, but that Russia’s attacks on Ukrainians made it more difficult. “As I said before, what is the price of all this? It’s the people. The many people who have been killed. And who ultimately pays for it all? It’s Ukraine. Only us,” Zelensky said. “Well, for us, this is a really big cost. If there is an opportunity to speak, we will speak. But to speak only under a Russian ultimatum? Then it is a question of attitude towards us, not of whether the dialogue is ‘Good or bad.’ It’s impossible.” Acknowledging that he still has a target on his back from the Kremlin as the war rages, Zelensky was asked how he would like to be remembered. “A man who loved life to the fullest,” he replied. “And he loved his family and he loved his homeland. He’s definitely not a hero. I want people to take me as I am. A normal person.” This story has been updated with additional details. CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report.
