Received this Wednesday, December 18 by NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels, Volodymyr Zelensky continues to push his allies to obtain even more aid. In a long interview given to five readers (and a few journalists, all the same) of the Parisianthe Ukrainian president calls on Europe and the United States to continue providing aid to Kyiv. If he is careful not to alienate his two main allies, emphasizing their importance in this conflict, he does not hesitate to put pressure on them either. “Why, from the start of the war, were we not massively equipped with weapons? My speech may seem insolent. But I have the impression that everyone is terrorized by Putin’s Russia.annoys the Ukrainian head of state. While no longer ruling out the possibility of negotiation with the Russian president: “We need a strong America and Europe to put pressure on Putin and stop this war.”
The election of Donald Trump is a game-changer for Ukraine. In the interview, Volodymyr Zelensky extends his hand to the next tenant of the White House, while the United States is the country’s main supporter. “It’s a new president, with another team. Changes are therefore inevitable, the Ukrainian president responds soberly. It is very important for us that they are in favor of Ukraine, not the other way around.” As for the American billionaire’s promise to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 24 hours, he tempers his ambitions: “It’s not easy. He really wants to do it quickly”. On the other hand, he says nothing about the closeness displayed between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
“The question is not to join NATO, but to ensure our security”
Faced with American uncertainty, Volodymyr Zelensky is increasing his appeals to his European allies. While he was present at the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on December 8, he recalled his links with France and Emmanuel Macron. “At the start of the large-scale invasion, Emmanuel was one of the few leaders with whom I spoke practically every day on the phone, without intermediary or protocol”he reveals.
However, their relationship has not always been good, with France being only the ninth donor country to Ukraine according to the Kiel Institute, far behind Germany and the United Kingdom. Politico also revealed last October that France will not keep its promise to give up to 3 billion euros in aid to the country. “We will be above 2 billion euros, but not at 3 billion euros”declared Sébastien Lecornu before the Defense Committee on October 14.
On a European scale, Ukraine’s accession to the EU is only a matter of time for the Ukrainian president. On the other hand, he is much less certain about Ukraine’s integration into NATO. “The question is not to join NATO, but to ensure our security”he believes, regretting having only “bilateral guarantees” with his allies.
“We must use the methods they understand”
Beyond diplomatic issues, Volodymyr Zelensky defended several of his criticized decisions, such as the Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil. “Russia reduces its strikes against Ukraine when we start to reach Russian territory. Faced with barbarians of this type, we must resort to the methods they understand.he justified. Last April, Ukraine lowered the age of mobilization from 27 to 25 years. “We know that the younger people are, the more physically vigorous they are”believes the Ukrainian president, who nevertheless advocates a modern war, based in particular on “aviation and drones”. Here again, a call to its Western partners.
Faced with the seriousness of the events in Ukraine, President Zelensky also indulged in lighter questions, his wish to spend Christmas with his family, the impact that the war had on him or even his desire to go to the cinema after the war. “Something simple, without a bodyguard. Just family and popcorn”. Far from the war that has punctuated his daily life for almost three years.
