The president thinks it is very difficult to negotiate with someone who has tortured the country, but believes it is inevitable in the end.
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– Yes, we must fight, but we must fight for life. We can not fight for dust and ruins without people, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in a new interview with AP.
He talks about how difficult it is to eventually have to negotiate with a country that has committed heinous crimes.
– There are many who have lost their loved ones. I’m not sure if they will accept peace on any terms. Because there are great wounds, and a tragedy to lose some loved ones, he says the same week as the atrocities in Butsja has been uncoveredand two days after the rocket attack on the train station in Kramatorsk.
– But if we talk without feelings, no matter how difficult it is, then we must understand that any war will have to end in peace, otherwise it will end up with millions of people dying.
–He is thus talking about diplomatic opportunities that will have to come.
– We can not say: No, we are not ready to talk to killers.
Zelenskyj believes the key lies in Mariupol, which he describes as “the heart of the war” right now. What happens here determines much of what happens next, he believes.
– We fight, we are strong. And if this heart stops beating, we will be weaker. The stronger we are in Mariupol, the stronger we are in the east of the country. If we are strong, the negotiating table must approach for the Russians, and we have advantages in the dialogue.
However, the president paints another far gloomier picture of the situation if Ukraine is under weaker pressure in Mariupol.
– Then there will be no negotiations, because then Russia will do everything they can to get back to the cities we have now liberated. Then they can go for it.
– But we believe in a different result. We believe in victory.
Zelensky adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says according to Euromaidan Press that any meetings between Zelensky and Putin will only take place after Ukraine has won important battles, including on the Donbas. He stresses that Russia must put aside imperialist illusions.
When asked if he thinks the many arms deliveries that are on the way will make any difference in the war, Zelenskyj answers as follows:
– Not yet. Because a lot of what they have sent, the type of equipment, it’s too late already.
Earlier Saturday, President Zelensky received Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who came on surprise visits. He promised even more assistance from the archipelago, including armored vehicles and naval missiles.
The crisis package Johnson promised has a price tag of 100 million pounds.
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