The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, gave a new interview to journalist Piers Morgan. In this interview, he addressed questions regarding the situation on the front lines, reliance on Western aid, and dispelled some Russian narratives.
The full version of the interview is posted on Morgan's YouTube channel. "The Telegraph" presents the key statements.
Zelensky states that Ukraine has been in a state of war for three years, so there is definitely some fatigue. However, there is still enough energy to fight for its existence.
"Putin will not wait for me to be exhausted; we are fighting for our lives and existence; we have no other choice," he said.
He also added that Ukraine has enough resources to achieve a fair and lasting peace for all.
Zelensky emphasized that the struggle is not only against Russia but also for the support of allies. Meanwhile, Moscow has launched a large-scale disinformation campaign in the West and is destabilizing some countries to undermine unity. Additionally, the Russians have secured support from North Korea, which has even sent its personnel to the front lines.
Zelensky mentions that Ukraine is currently in a better position than in 2022. He noted that now 40% of the weaponry is already being produced independently.
However, this weaponry is still insufficient, and without Western assistance, Ukraine will continue to lose territory. Yet, Zelensky disagrees with the assertion that the country would lose in six months if it remains unsupported.
"Ukraine has received only $46 billion of the promised $77 billion in weaponry, and part of the funds remains in the U.S. for weapon production," he stated.
The head of state reported that Russian losses are estimated at 300,000 to 350,000 killed and 600,000 to 700,000 wounded. 50,000 to 70,000 people are missing.
"Approximately 45,100 of our people have died in the war, and 390,000 have been injured," he said.
He noted that thousands of people remain in Russian captivity but could not provide an exact figure. He clarified that about 19,500 to 19,800 children have been forcibly taken to Russia.
He added that Ukraine will not make territorial concessions but noted that it is currently impossible to reclaim occupied lands by force.
"Today, we cannot reclaim all our territories: we are reasonable people and cannot sacrifice millions of lives for a result that is not guaranteed to happen," the Ukrainian president pointed out.
Zelensky suggested that he might even consider negotiations with Putin under certain conditions.
"If meeting with Putin is the only option for achieving a peace agreement, then we will certainly go for such a meeting," he added.
The head of state emphasized that Europe and the U.S. must participate in the negotiations but stressed that Putin does not want peace; he seeks the destruction of Ukraine.
"Russians do not want to end the war, so I am definitely not suitable for them, as they need their puppet here," Zelensky said.
He specifically highlighted the issue of security guarantees, emphasizing NATO's role in this. According to him, without NATO, the war could repeat itself.
However, if the Alliance does not wish to accept Ukraine, then an alternative could be nuclear weapons.
Zelensky expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump would not weaken support for Ukraine, as this would lead to a Russian victory and could trigger a third world war. Therefore, he criticized those supporters of the U.S. president who hint at ending aid, calling them irresponsible.
A significant portion of the interview addressed the criticism from journalist Carlson. In particular, Zelensky commented on the narrative regarding his alleged illegitimacy.
"Regarding my legitimacy, I was elected by 73% of my population, and I have always said that I am open to elections," he stated.
Speaking about "repressions against the opposition," which Carlson mentioned, Zelensky reminded that Viktor Medvedchuk is related to Putin and that ultimatums were passed to Ukrainian authorities through him at the beginning of the war.
"When the war started, Putin conveyed his ultimatums through OPZZH, and Medvedchuk and his colleagues demanded that Ukraine surrender to Putin... Medvedchuk would have ruled Ukraine. It would have been like in Belarus or Chechnya, and I would have fled abroad. In the end, we arrested Medvedchuk and exchanged him for 200 soldiers," Zelensky said.
Moreover, he added that all his political opponents currently remain in Ukraine, alive, and continue to attend parliament. Even members of the former OPZZH.
To summarize, Zelensky urged Carlson to "stop kissing Putin's ass," to understand what is happening in Ukraine, and not to work for Russia.
As previously reported, Zelensky mentioned that Trump invited him to the inauguration, but he did not attend, as he considered the visit "inappropriate."