“Ukrainians are not ready to give away their land, to accept that these territories belong to Russia. This is our land,” Zelensky mentioned in an unique interview aired Thursday on CNN’s “The Situation Room.”
“We always talk about that, and we are intending to prove it,” he added.
“He resigned not because he was in Ukraine. I think on the contrary, what Johnson has been doing for Ukraine was helping us a great deal. I consider him a friend of Ukraine, but I think his society also supported Ukraine in Europe. That’s why I think the UK, it’s on the side of good, on the side of Ukraine,” Zelensky mentioned.
“And I’m sure the UK policy toward Ukraine is not … changing because of Boris Johnson’s resignation. Our relations obviously gained a lot from Boris Johnson’s understanding of things. We went through a lot of dramatic moments quite quickly. The help we needed was delivered rather quickly … if (his resignation) will affect this speed of help I don’t know. I will pray to God it won’t be affecting that help.”
Zelensky acknowledged that Russia controls “almost all the Luhansk region,” saying that his forces at the moment are “fighting on the outskirts of this region.” He mentioned that Kyiv retreated to keep away from mass losses of troops.
“I don’t even understand what exactly they’re controlling there. They ruined towns, school. They are the occupiers of the rubble?” Zelensky mentioned.
Zelensky mentioned that he was completely satisfied that Sweden and Finland have been being accepted as NATO members, although the Western army alliance has lengthy resisted accepting Ukraine as a member.
“It’s not superficial, but deep understanding of the risks for these countries because of the aggressive attitude of Russia to sovereign countries,” Zelensky mentioned. “That’s why we fully support their membership. The whole world is helping Ukraine, some doing humanitarian aid, some financial or military aid, both houses in the United States support us.
“The world is doing so much, but it surely may have been simpler — Ukraine may have been accepted as a NATO member. It could be way more easy than folks think about.”
Still, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the military support that Ukraine has received from the United States, which has provided weapons with greater capability as the war has dragged on, while urging the West to continue providing military support to help Ukraine keep up its fight.
“(The) United States are serving to Ukraine, serving to so much, but it surely’s not sufficient to be able to win. I hope my belief will velocity up this assist to Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “We need the increment of this assist — we’re preventing for our land, we do not need folks from completely different international locations battle for our territory. But the US are a world economic system and might help us with each arms and funds.
“And also, the US can influence the decisions of the European countries — this is also the political support. I have to be honest, some countries in Europe want a balance between Russia and Ukraine. But owing to the US help they started supporting us. So, when I talk about the volume and speed of the arms support, I’m not appealing only (to) the United States, I appeal to all the world leaders and saying that the faster help, the increment of help, will save the lives of Ukrainians and help us to regain territories occupied by Russia.”
Asked whether or not the warfare could possibly be over earlier than the top of the yr, Zelensky mentioned, “Our country will stay united and unified. If the powerful weaponry from our partners will be coming to us on-time, and if good luck and God will be on our side, we can achieve a lot of things before the end of the year and we can stop this war. We can stop the military part, at least, of this war.”
Zelensky additionally reiterated his name for US President Joe Biden to go to Kyiv, saying it could ship a message to Russia and the world.
“We would love to see President Biden in Ukraine. I heard that he supported the idea. There are some security moments, which stand in the way of his visit, we understand that,” Zelensky mentioned. “I truly think this would help the Ukrainians. Ukrainians support (the) United States, the trust of the Ukrainians to the United States is very high, same as to the UK and Poland and the Baltic states.
“So, visits of the world leaders who’re not simply companions however actual associates — they give a sign, an indication, that the United States assist Ukraine as a result of they imagine in Ukrainian victory and are not afraid of Russia. They come regardless of the rockets flying in. They are not afraid of Putin as a result of the world is way larger than one chief of 1 nation.”
