And you longer interview with NBC’s current affairs program “Meet the press” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj comes out hard against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
– The war takes the best of us. They take our heroes. Our best men, women and children, but we are not ready to give up our freedom to the damn terrorist Putin. That is why we continue to fight, says Zelenskyj.
In the more than 40-minute long interview, Zelenskyj consistently uses the word “terrorists” when describing Russia and the country’s political leadership.
– Refuses to negotiate
NBC reported earlier this week that officials from the US and Europe have been quietly exploring the possibilities for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyj was asked if he has been involved in these talks, to which he does not answer directly.
– Today, I have no relations to or with Russia. They know my position, that of our country and that of our people: We do not want dialogue with terrorists. The President of the United States, the Congress and others know that I do not want to talk to terrorists, because their words mean nothing, Zelenskyj says.
– We cannot trust terrorists, because they always come back, he adds.
– They have always lied
Zelensky then refers to Russia’s occupation and subsequent annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
In the same year, Russian hybrid forces entered the Donbas region, in the far east of Ukraine, and occupied large parts of the region.
– We had already had a frozen conflict for eight years where we tried to negotiate with them. They have always lied and we cannot trust them. Then, in 2022, came the big attack. This is not war, this is clear terror. They have not only killed military personnel, they have killed civilians and committed atrocities, says Zelenskyj.
– How are we going to manage to negotiate, he adds rhetorically.
Invites Trump to Ukraine
Zelenskyj is also asked about former US President Donald Trump, who has previously stated that he would have managed to end the war in Ukraine in “24 hours”.
– What shall I say. He is very welcome here. President Biden was here, and I think he understood some details that can only be understood by being here. So, I invite President Trump, Zelenskyy says.
The Ukrainian president then states that he will only need “24 minutes” to persuade Trump.
– If he comes here, I need 24 minutes, yes, 24 minutes, no more, to explain to Trump that he cannot get control of this war in 24 hours, Zelenskyj says.
– Trump will not be able to create here because of Putin, he adds.
2023-11-05 17:15:00
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