Ukraine war: Tanks, peace talks, Putin and Boris Johnson – key points from Kay Burley’s interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy | World News
Kay Burley met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv for an exclusive interview with Sky News.
Everything was discussed in a wide discussion: from tanks to the family, Vladimir Putin, Boris Johnson and the president’s birthday.
Here are five key points from the interview.
Russia sends warning to US over tanks – Ukraine
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Why does Ukraine need new tanks?
On tanks
The President explained that Russian tanks significantly outnumber the vehicles that Ukrainian forces are at their disposal.
Mr Zelenskywho learned of Germany’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks during his Sky News interview, said he would like to thank Europe and the US, but added that they can’t take the time to get them to the front lines.
He said: “We need 300 or 500 tanks now. Therefore, I believe that we need tanks to conduct an offensive on our territory, on our land. We need armored vehicles to protect our people, that’s all.
“I am very happy and I would like to thank Germany, thank the UK and thank the United States for making these decisions. In general, I am grateful to the world for their support of Ukraine.
“But speaking frankly and honestly with you, the number of tanks and delivery times are of decisive and decisive importance compared to the decision made. still haven’t received them.
“Sometimes it takes months to deliver weapons, you know? I don’t blame anyone, but in answer to your question, a sense of relief comes only after the weapons that our partners give us are already being used by our army.
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Soldiers are preparing in Bakhmut
On fighting the Russians
Zelensky explained that he does not plan to seize territory in Russiasaying that all he wants is for Moscow’s troops to leave Ukraine.
He said: “We are not fighting on the territory of Russia, because we are not interested. We are simply not interested.
“Because war, wherever it is, is the loss of people. For me, people are my number one priority. Therefore, I do not want to fight on the territory of Russia.
“I just want them to stop the war as soon as possible and leave our country as soon as possible.
“I can tell you for sure, if they leave our territory, the war will stop. That’s all”.
The Ukrainian leader said that peace talks with Vladimir Putin are meaningless. Rice: AP
On peace talks with Putin
Zelensky said that peace talks with Russia while Vladimir Putin is still president are pointless.
He said: “You know, there are no peace talks with Russia yet…because we don’t know with whom we should negotiate and about what. What are the peace talks?
“Currently, they are just criminals who have come here and killed and raped. Here’s what they do.
“They don’t want any negotiations, and that was before the invasion. So decided President Putin. I am convinced that Ukraine is only the first step for him. I am convinced that he is waging a big war.
“And the fact that now the whole world is helping Ukraine – he does not think about it. He thinks:” Well, it’s not working out in Ukraine now, but we’ll wait … I’ll go further.
“But after Ukraine there will be further steps, there will be other countries if we do not stand.”
Read more:
Zelensky is ‘grateful’ for tanks, but warns quantity and delivery times are ‘critical’
Germany to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
What are Leopard 2 Battle Tanks?
The president added that prior to the invasion, Putin had never met for negotiations because he had no intention of keeping the peace, saying: “He was just trying to mislead us. He doesn’t want negotiations because he doesn’t want peace. slow things down.
“They sent messages about peace talks, and we have evidence of this, only when they needed time to regroup on the battlefield.
“When they had huge losses, they said they wanted peace. It’s a lie. We saw how they said they wanted peace, and then at night they hit with rockets.
“We hope that as soon as Russia withdraws its troops back to its territory, they will admit their big mistakes and there will be a new government in the Russian Federation. We are neighbours. Only then will we resolve this situation. Then, perhaps, negotiations are possible.
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Johnson made a surprise visit to Ukraine
About Boris Johnson
Asked if he would be happy Boris Johnson as Britain’s special envoy to Ukraine, he enthusiastically agreed, calling the former prime minister a “good guy”.
But when asked if he would support Mr Johnson if he ran for prime minister again, Mr. Zelensky was more diplomatic, saying, “I think it’s wrong for me to support Johnson as prime minister when Rishi is prime minister, that’s wrong, sorry, absolutely . “
About never losing your sense of humor
Before entering politics and war, Zelensky was an actor and comedian.
When asked about the importance of maintaining a sense of humor, he said, “I never lost my sense of humor.
“I think when people lose it, they lose… state of mind. I think so. You need to concentrate and be very serious, not for months.
“You have to do it in very important moments, in very difficult decisions, you have to be smart, you have to be adequate and you have to be brave because you are a leader.
“You need to be strong, and therefore a sense of humor is manifested when you know how to joke, sometimes, of course, show, show that you are in order, that you are strong, that you are in control of the situation.
“It is very important to control the situation. And that’s it. Nobody can make decisions without you. Because then the result, that is, the result depends on you.
“That’s why you have to concentrate. And humor makes you human.
