3 years agoZelensky says the White House is making the Russian invasion threat "as burning as possible" - "in my opinion, this is a mistake." Again criticizes withdrawals of staff/families from Western embassies - says the moves were "redundant and wrong"
3 years ago Zelensky: "I don't think the White House is going very wrong in their analysis. I think that they are participating in this informational situation that is created around our borders"
3 years ago Zelensky says "we do see" the 100,000 Russian troops. "If it happens, it will be open war. A horrible war, and we understand these things"
3 years ago Zelensky says it was a "mistake" for Western embassies - the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia - to withdraw families and non-essential staff. "In these circumstances, everyone is essential"
3 years ago Zelensky says Putin invited him to Sochi, asks why there: "Do you want me to ski there?" Suggests Odessa instead. "Let's swim in the sea."
3 years ago Zelensky, still asking questions to Putin: "Why are you proposing things that won't work? This is just blunt cynicism at high level."
3 years ago Zelensky: I don't want Ukraine to be a result between president Biden and President Putin. President Biden assured me that nothing will be decided behind Ukraine's back about the destiny and future about our country
3 years ago Zelensky says he'd ask Putin: "Why do you need so many soldiers there?.... Why do you need to have drills specifically on that territory, on that border?... What is this sado-masochism? What is the pleasure of someone being afraid?"
3 years ago Zelensky says he hopes to see three-way negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine
3 years ago Zelensky: "I don't want Ukraine to be the result of an agreement between President Biden and President Putin"
3 years ago Zelensky, asked about Germany's role in the crisis, says Berlin has important influence in Europe. "That's why we expect you to help us"
3 years ago Zelensky wandering into internal Ukrainian divisions - talking about how oligarchs and some of the former political elite "don't care what is happening in the country."
3 years ago Zelensky: "The biggest risk is to fail to hold the country together. Domestic destabilization. This is the weakest link"
3 years agoThe unloading of Russian troops was seen in Maryina Horka on January 27. There were trucks with the 25th region on license plates (Eastern Military District) near the Russian Railways train
3 years ago Zelensky hints that if war starts in Ukraine, there will also be Russian provocations against the Baltic states - asks whether NATO will act. "Are they convinced they will be protected, defended - that somebody's going to die for their statehood"
3 years ago Zelensky says he does see the threat of a proxy war involving cyberattacks and information warfare - possibly also "subversive" attacks (he mentions a grenade exploding). "The threat is constant.. We have learned to live with this"
3 years ago Zelensky, asked what Ukrainian government is doing to prepare for possibility of attack, says "we should have no panic. We have a powerful army"
3 years ago Zelensky: "We have to be very careful in how we speak out.. We can't say that the war will happen tomorrow." Points out (correctly) that some analysts have been predicting imminent war since November
3 years ago Zelensky: "We may lose the economy of our country. People come first." Repeats that Russian threat is the same as in April 2021
3 years ago Sky News asks Zelensky if he's playing down the threat of a Russian attack to preserve Ukraine's economy. Replies: "I think you mistake me for another President of Ukraine"
3 years ago Zelensky says Russian military build-up is "psychological pressure" aimed at affecting negotiations
3 years ago Zelensky speaking to foreign media: "If you look only at the satellites, you will see the increase of troops. You can't assess whether this is a threat, an attack, or a simple rotation"
3 years ago Zelensky asked a tough Question: What does he think he knows that President Biden doesn't know? Answer: "I think I have my own secrets, just like the President of the United States
3 years ago Zelensky, answering Question about money laundering, talks about post-Soviet oligarchs that plague both Russia and Ukraine. Says Russian escalation has distracted his government from de-oligarchization efforts
3 years ago Zelensky asking why West says it will only sanction Russia after it attacks Ukraine. Says the sanctions are designed to defend the EU and NATO - not Ukraine
3 years ago Zelensky: "Tell us openly we will never get into NATO" (if there is no clear road map soon)
3 years ago Zelensky: "We understand right now perfectly well that if we are not part of NATO, then we are on our own in terms of protecting outselves"
3 years ago Zelensky says "unbalanced, unreasonable information policy" has caused extensive economic damage to Ukraine
3 years ago Zelensky: "Do we have tanks on the streets, no?" says media creating a false impression of what's happening in Ukraine. "We don't need this panic."
3 years ago Zelensky: "We do not see a bigger escalation than before. Yes the number of troops has gone up. I don't think the situation is more intense than [in April 2021]
