Extended Interview: President Zelenskyy on the 2-year anniversary of Russian invasion

hi hi good to see you again thank you very much I'm well thank you you're always frustrated that people are pressuring you it seems like to make a peace deal and I don't know if they fully understand what it would mean if Ukraine lost this war Putin says you don't exist there's no such thing as Ukraine if you lost the war Putin openly says you don't exist yeah you're done he thinks that there is no Any Nation ran no ukrainians this is not a country and this is not a people this is part of Russia and he want to destroy it of course he will destroy of course we don't have any alternative if he will break defending lines he will destroy all the cities he doesn't need any anything any Ukrainian culture he will destroy it architecture museums schools universities people he will be very happy if people will go out from the cities so you think he wants your extermination yeah yes totally of course we understood it at the very beginning two years ago when we we understood it that he totally want to destroy everything uh because when they when they came to K and occupied the parts of our country they began to speak that there is no country there is uh there is no government it's something fake and Etc and they be began to attack by missiles you remember the first day by missiles from the belus territory in the night everything just infrastructure and houses they didn't find any goals no military goals in K they really attacked for war they wanted to have CS in Ukraine what does it say to you that your Western allies particularly the United States can't resupply Ukraine but Iran and North Korea can help Moscow to speak openly that of course United States focused on also on interior questions political questions you know this tough period election period and that's why uh it's a little bit slow but the answer is if to give us strong package in one time our steps will be more strong on the battlefield we will lose less people it effects we know how how how it's going on so we will lose less people and we will win Mr President I just returned from several areas along the front line in the South and in the East and soldiers there told me they have to ration their ammunition they don't have enough weapons to advance they can only defend themselves in some cases they're losing territory what happens to your country if this American Aid doesn't arrive we will lose a lot of people we will lose territories we don't have long distance for example long distance rounds for artillery I'm not just speaking about the missiles just long distance artillery rounds it's 20 kilometers plus Russians just you to know Russian they have 20 plus and we we have 20 miles it's about rounds we have 11 12 kilm 9 kilm 20 maximum and they have to the 35 kilometers so of course they kill people and people can't you know answer cash shoot back that that is the big problem so if we will not get the support from us we will go back there is a perception among many in in the United States and in Europe that you Ukraine can't win this war that you can hold on but that you don't have enough manpower enough weapons to actually defeat Russia and take back all of your territory you are still optimistic you still say that Ukraine can win what what gives you that optimism we don't need the war for centuries and we will not do it we now what we have we can only defend we don't want to live in such uh situation a lot of years we just said if we will get the package not only for defend just to try try to get those package what we need for some operations you will see the result otherwise how you can win do you think the United States wants Ukraine to win this war or do they just want you to weaken Russia and contain Russia do you think they want you to actually win I hope so I hope so otherwise how to trust people you know it's so difficult to live without any any trust so I mean that's I mean we have we we have we count on our partners and I hope that it's not only words that really it's not about how to how to make Russians more weak it's about how to make us more strong ukrainians we've been speaking to these are military officials but also just regular ukrainians don't understand what happened in the United States how suddenly the US is a major supporter of in Ukraine of Ukraine and then suddenly now can't deliver on promises do you share that those questions it's like to believe or not to believe in our Victory you know it's so we we don't have alternative that's why we believe and do everything what we can and I think that the first year and the second second year was very difficult but on the Black Sea we had success I think our steps showed very clearly that what we can do don't forget we're defending against against Russia it's a very big country and after after Ukraine what United States will do what European France will do all the European France include Baltic and Poland they will ask United States and United States should answer if Russians will go to Poland or Baltic and they will say please give us your army give us your people give us thousands dozens of thousands people with artillery with all the weapon with all the Jets and Etc what United States will say what they will how they will answer what your Society will say so are you saying that the United States is preventing a big war in Europe by supporting Ukraine exactly exactly because Putin wants only one thing and this is this thing he wants to go forward and forward and he will AB he has the period if we will not stop if United if the world will not stop him he will do it till 23 you will see it 2030 he had this plan so you're assuming that he's going to win this upcoming election and give him another presidential term until 2030 yes of course you heal ready one you had to pull out of of Diva and many military analysts say that a decisive Factor was the use of Russian aircraft and airplanes have not been a major component so far in this war did something just change did Russia now just turn a corner with its use of of combat air power no war in modern history has ever been won without a decisive air component did things just change for Ukraine with the in the air War here so Russia used about 3,200 bombs using the Jets bombs on AA and on this East Direction during during the end of January and February and all the February so you you can understand what was going on there in AA and near the will and in The Villages which are near this region so 3,200 such bombs only there is only one key to destroy their Sky air flet this is air defense no other ways no other ways and that's why if partners are ready to give us air air defense because we can use air defense saving civilians historical centers hospitals and also and also it can defend Russians and defeat also this fled so if partners are ready to do it not so slow way stop be afraid of Russia if they are ready we will have success if not it will it's they will continue continue continue attack us you said that you believe this year is a turning point year for Ukraine because of in part us elections you pointed specifically to the US elections are you talking about Donald Trump are you worried that Donald Trump could pull the plug uh of support for Ukraine I hope he will not stop if he will be the president that is the decision of your people of course and I hope that the policy of the council will not change I have again to trust that situation and the society because really mostly people push the leaders and change their mind and that's why I count on the American people mostly they on the our way on our side and that's why I count especially on that we need Justice we need peace but but just to understand what will because we have because we are in war and we are not in the political war not in election War we are in real war that's why we have to understand before because if the policy of United States will change we have to be ready thank you very much I appreciate the time and like I said I appreciate the commitment to transparency with the Press I really much thank you thank you very much all the best

Channel: NBC News

Views: 23,670

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Id: I4DAy-WRL1g

Length: 10min 58sec (658 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 28 2024