Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could not hold back tears during an interview with British TV presenter Steven Bartlett. He admitted that he is going through a difficult emotional period due to the war in Ukraine, experiencing strong tension and facing sleep problems.
Modern.az reports that Zelensky spoke about this during his appearance on “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast.
During the interview, the Ukrainian leader also touched upon the prospects for a ceasefire, possible negotiations with Russia, his relations with US President Donald Trump, and the compromises Kyiv might make for the settlement of the conflict.
“I want my children to be proud of me”
Zelensky stated that he is experiencing great moral pain due to the conflict in Ukraine and hardly sleeps.
“It's difficult because I'm trying to survive with my country and my people. The question really arises: will tomorrow come? And the answer to that question is 'yes, it will come,'” he said.
The Ukrainian President added that his children provide him with moral support. His biggest wish is for his children to be proud of their father.
“This is already a big compromise”
Zelensky said that he considers the declaration of a ceasefire and the start of negotiations to be a big compromise in itself.
“When President Trump says we need to find a compromise, believe me: a ceasefire and the start of negotiations is already a big compromise. Hatred will not disappear anywhere. It requires time and justice. I have tried to explain this to the US President many times: just understand us. Being ready to stand on existing positions is already a big compromise,” Zelensky said.
He said that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east of the country could give Russia the opportunity to capture new cities.
According to V. Zelensky, Moscow demands that Ukraine leave the cities of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkovka, while also insisting on a further withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Let's just stop this confrontation. But they want us to withdraw further. If we withdraw, where are the security guarantees? I'm not even saying that this is unfair,” the Ukrainian President emphasized.
“I will not fire at anyone”
Zelensky also stated that he has repeatedly discussed with Trump achieving a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.
According to him, he asked the US President to provide Kyiv with air defense missiles to protect the country's energy system.
Zelensky specifically emphasized that he did not demand these missiles for free. He stated that European countries are taking on the financing of the supply, and there is a corresponding agreement on this.
However, according to him, the provision of missiles to Ukraine is being delayed, explained by limited capabilities, while supplies to the Middle East continue.
“Give me air defense missiles. I will not fire at anyone. I will protect our country's energy sector,” Zelensky said.
“This is completely false information”
The Ukrainian President also rejected Donald Trump's accusations that Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries increased diesel prices in the US.
Zelensky cited the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as the cause of problems in the energy market.
“The volume of diesel exports from Russia is so negligible that its impact on prices in the United States is zero. This is completely false information,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader said that strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure were carried out in response to attacks on his country's energy system.
“We are also delivering retaliatory strikes on their diesel,” Zelensky noted.
“If Trump were president, such an event would not have happened”
Zelensky believes that Donald Trump has enough influence to bring Russia to the negotiating table. He cited, in particular, the tough sanctions supported by the US Congress as an example.
“Trump can very easily bring Moscow to the negotiating table. He should apply the rhetoric he used against me to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has sanctions against Russia. These sanctions were voted for by Congress, not him. Trump can apply them. Perhaps he has a special relationship with Putin, perhaps there is another reason. I don't know what the reason is,” the Ukrainian President said.
Zelensky also suggested that Trump might pay more attention to energy prices in the country ahead of the midterm elections in the US.
He also said that if Donald Trump, not US President Joe Biden, had been president in 2022, a large-scale war might not have started.
“To be honest, I think no one knows the answer to that. The fact is that this event happened during Joe Biden's presidency. Such an event did not happen during Trump's presidency,” Zelensky emphasized.
According to the Ukrainian leader, Trump's friendly relations with Putin could also have prevented the conflict.
“I don't think they will dare to use nuclear weapons”
Zelensky said he does not think Russia will dare to use nuclear weapons. In his opinion, such a step could lead to Moscow losing all its allies and create a dangerous precedent for the use of nuclear weapons in other conflicts.
“Everyone thinks they might do something more terrible. But I don't think they will dare to use nuclear weapons,” he said.
According to Zelensky, the single use of nuclear weapons would create a dangerous precedent for other nuclear states. This could increase the risk of using such weapons in other conflicts, including in the Middle East.
“Only with our participation”
The Ukrainian President also spoke about the prospects of his country's integration into Europe.
He believes that strengthening Ukraine's ties with Europe could affect the political situation in the region and relations between neighboring states.
According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian leadership considers the European direction an important part of the country's future.
He also stated that any agreement regarding Ukraine's future fate must be adopted with the participation of the country's representatives.
A.Gorkhmaz
