Interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky judged Friday, in an interview with AFP, that the assault launched by Russia against the Kharkiv region could only be the first wave of a broader offensive. According to him, Moscow wants to “attack” the city of Kharkiv.

The Russians “launched their operation. It can be made up of several waves and this is their first wave. But the situation is under control after this first wave,” assured the Ukrainian president, while Russia has just made its biggest territorial gains since the end of 2022.

Ukraine needs “120 to 130” combat aircraft

Ukraine’s president warns that Ukraine has only a quarter of the air defense systems it needs. He adds that his country needs “120 to 130” F-16 fighter planes or other modern aircraft, “so that Russia does not have superiority in the air”.

A lack of men and a problem of “morale” of the troops

Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledges that his country lacks soldiers and that this is affecting the morale of the troops, while a new law on mobilization comes into force on Saturday to replenish the ranks of the army.

“We have to fill the reserves (…) There are a significant number of brigades which are empty. We have to do it so that the guys (who are on the front) can have normal rotations. This is how morale will improve,” he said.

Zelensky criticizes Western ban on strikes in Russia

The Ukrainian president criticized the West for prohibiting Ukraine from using weapons supplied by Europe and the United States to strike Russian territory.

“They can hit us from their territory, this is the biggest advantage Russia has, and we cannot do anything to their (weapons) systems located on Russian territory with Western weapons. We do not have the right,” he said, noting that he complained about it again this week to the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

The West is “afraid”

Volodymyr Zelensky estimated that the West was “afraid” of both a Russian defeat and a Ukrainian defeat, a situation he described as “absurd”.

“We find ourselves in an absurd situation where the West is afraid that Russia will lose the war. And (at the same time) he doesn’t want Ukraine to lose it. Because the final victory of Ukraine will lead to the defeat of Russia. And the final victory of Russia will lead to the defeat of Ukraine,” he said.

No to the Olympic truce wanted by France

The Ukrainian president said he rejected the idea of ​​a “truce” in the war with Russia during the Paris Olympic Games that French President Emmanuel Macron wanted.

“I said: Emmanuel, we don’t believe it. Let’s imagine for a second that there is a ceasefire. First, we don’t trust (Vladimir) Putin. Second, he is not going to withdraw his troops. Thirdly, (…) tell me Emmanuel, I said, who guarantees that Russia will not take advantage of this to bring its troops to our territory,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, rejecting a “truce that would play into the hands of Russia.” ‘enemy”.

China must be ‘involved’ in peace summit

The Ukrainian president finally wants to see China “involved” in the conference on peace in Ukraine, which Switzerland is to organize in June at Bürgenstock (NW). Three issues must be dealt with during the meeting, notably the return of thousands of deported Ukrainian children.

“I would like to see China involved in the peace summit,” he said. “Global players” like China “have influence on Russia. And the more countries of this type we have on our side, on the side of ending the war, I would say, the more Russia will have to reckon with that,” he added.

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