- John Simpson & James Waterhouse
- BBC News
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out the possibility of giving up part of his country’s territory in a potential peace deal with Russia.
In an interview with the BBC on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, he warned that giving up territory would mean Russia could “keep coming back”. Only Western weapons could bring them closer to peace.
Zelensky also claimed that the spring offensive has begun. “Russian attacks are already taking place from various directions”he assured.
However, he believes that the Ukrainian forces can continue to resist the Russian advance until they are able to launch a counteroffensive. But he reiterated his call for more military aid to the West.
“Of course, weapons accelerate peace. Guns are the only language Russia understandsZelensky told the BBC.
International aid
Last week, Zelensky met UK and EU leaders in a bid to bolster international support and call for arms to defend his country.
When the Ukrainian president called for fighter jets, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Nothing is off the table.”
Kgroove he feels more and more frustrated by lat speed with which western weapons arrive.
Tanks promised last month by several Western countries, including Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, are believed to be weeks away from the battlefield.
President Zelensky assured that the Russian spring offensive has begun.
President Zelensky also referred to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s threat to join the war, along with Russian troops, if a single Ukrainian soldier crossed the border.
“I hope that [Bielorrusia] I don’t know one [a la guerra]”, he claimed “If it does, we will fight and survive.”
Allowing Russia to use Belarus again as a starting point for an attack would be a “big mistake”, he added.
Russian forces launched part of their full-scale invasion from Belarus 12 months ago.
They headed towards the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, but were repelled and forced to withdraw within weeks, after suffering heavy casualties.
Asked if he was surprised by Russian tactics in the war, Zelensky called them “useless”.
“The way they destroyed everything. If your soldiers received [y cumplieron] those orders, it means they share those same values”.
image source, Scott Peterson
Russian forces are not stopping in their mission to control Ukraine. A Russian missile exploded mid-morning on February 15, 2023 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine.
fight for survival
Ukrainian figures released this week suggest that Russian troops in Ukraine are dying in greater numbers this month than at any time since the first week of their invasion.
The data cannot be verified, but the British Ministry of Defense stated that the trends were “probably accurate”.
“Today, our survival is our unity”Zelensky opined on how he thinks the war will end.
“I think Ukraine is fighting for its survival,” he said. “We have chosen this path. We want security guarantees. Any territorial compromise would weaken us as a state.”
“It’s not about the commitment itself,” he added. “Why would we be afraid of that? We have millions of commitments in life every day.”
“The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there is no trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there is no trust.”
