Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned this Friday in an exclusive interview with AFP that The offensive launched by Russia this month in the Kharkiv region may be a “first wave” and declared that Ukraine will only accept a “just peace”.
Read below the exclusive interview published by Ania Tsoukanova and Emmanuel Peuchot, from the AFP agency.
(We recommend: How likely is a military alliance between China, Russia and Iran that challenges the West?)
The president admitted that the country faces personnel difficulties and problems with the “morale” of its troops, but assured that Ukraine will hold its defensive lines and stop any major advance by Russia.
“No one is going to give up,” said the president who has embodied Ukraine’s resistance since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
(You can read: Ukrainians rebuild and anticipate new attacks from Russia)
‘A meaningless situation’
The president stated that Ukraine and its allies share the “same values” but have “different perspectives,” particularly on how the conflict can end.
We are in a senseless situation where the West fears that Russia will lose the war. And he doesn’t want Ukraine to lose it.
(Also: Vladimir Putin is committed to intensifying bilateral trade at the close of his visit to China)
“Everyone wants to find some model to end the war faster,” the president responded to a question about a scenario to end fighting such as the division line on the Korean Peninsula.
Ukrainian president urges China, developing countries to attend peace conference in Switzerland in Juneto which Russia was not invited.
“We want the war to end with a just peace for us” while “The West wants the war to end. Period. As soon as possible. And for them, that is a just peace,” said the 46-year-old former actor wearing his characteristic t-shirt. khaki for the interview with AFP in kyiv.
(Also read: ‘It’s their fault’: Putin justifies the Russian offensive in northeastern Ukraine and assures that they are not going for the city of Kharkiv)
The ‘first wave’ of a Russian offensive
According to an AFP analysis based on data from the American Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have taken more than 278 square kilometers in their offensive in this region.
Russia began the offensive on May 10, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as Moscow’s troops advanced.
(Read also: This is Bulava, Russia’s new nuclear missile that can overcome the United States anti-missile shield)
The Russian offensive “could consist of several waves. There was a first wave” in the Kharkiv region, he said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a great success (for Russia), but we have to be sober and admit that it is they, and not us, who are putting pressure on our territory. That is their advantage,” he said.
‘They are like a beast’
“I said publicly that if this continues, we will be forced to create a security zone,” said the Russian president. When asked if he plans to take the city of Kharkiv, Putin replied: “We don’t have that project at the moment.”
Zelensky stated that Russia seeks to take the city of Kharkiv, the second most important in the country.
(You can read: What is known about the spy network that Russia has in Poland and other European countries: this is how they would be recruiting young people)
Russia wants to take the city of Kharkiv, but they understand that it is a difficult battle.
For Zelensky, Ukraine and its Western allies must not show weakness and called for the deployment of two Patriot missile batteries to defend the skies over the Kharkiv region and show the country’s resilience.
“They are like a beast (…) If they perceive weakness somewhere in this direction, they will move forward,” he indicated.
However, if the Ukrainian troops manage to stop them, Russia will desist: “I don’t think they are going to die by the millions to take Kharkov,” he said.
(You can read: China and Russia talk about ‘political solution for the invasion of Ukraine’ and kyiv responds to Vladimir Putin: ‘hypocrite’)
Russia’s ‘biggest advantage’
“Today we have about 25% of what we need to defend Ukraine. I’m talking about air defense,” Zelensky said, adding that “as for aircraft, (…) so that Russia does not have air superiority, our fleet “It should have between 120 and 130 modern aircraft.”
(Keep reading: What global issues do China and Russia agree on and why do they mark serious differences with the West?)
The president criticized Western restrictions on Ukraine on the use of donated weapons to attack Russian territory.
“They can fire any weapon from their territory against ours. This is the biggest advantage that Russia has. We cannot do anything to their systems, which are located on Russian territory, with Western weapons,” he lamented.
#surrender #president #Ukraine #talks #current #moment #war #points #Russia #beast