Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the end of the war with Russia and called for stronger support from allies during an exclusive interview with ABC News on 23 September.
Speaking to NBC News’ “Good Morning America,”Zelenskyy stated,
“I think that we are closer to the peace than we think. We are closer to the end of the war. We just have to be very strong, very strong.”
The Ukrainian leader emphasized the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s position.
“The plan of victory is strengthening of Ukraine,” he said. “That’s why we’re asking our friends, our allies, to strengthen us. It’s very important.”
Zelenskyy’s interview took place during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He is set to travel to Washington later this week to meet with President Joe Biden and presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The Ukrainian president plans to present what he calls his “Victory Plan” during these meetings.
Addressing Ukraine’s recent military operations, Zelenskyy discussed the incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. He claimed that Ukraine had seized hundreds of square miles and dozens of villages in the early days of the surprise offensive. Zelenskyy asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “afraid” of the Kursk incursion, stating,
“It’s true. He’s afraid very much. Why? Because his people saw that he can’t defend – that he can’t defend all his territory.”
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly appealed to the United States and United Kingdom to drop their restrictions on long-range missiles provided to Ukraine for striking targets deep inside Russia. However, Putin once again threatened that the use of Western weapons to strike Russian targets would be considered a direct confrontation with NATO nations.
Zelenskyy emphasized that only from a “strong position” can Ukraine “push Putin to stop the war.”
Related:
- The New Yorker: Zelenskyy warns of “very long war” if Biden doesn’t support his victory plan
- Zelenskyy: Next few months decisive in war against Russia, allies must define outcome
- Zelenskyy begins his visit to United States to present Ukraine’s ”Victory Plan”
- CNN: Zelenskyy says long-range weapons ban lift key part of his “Victory Plan”
- Zelenskyy: Biden can make “historic” decisions before term ends
- Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s “Victory Plan” ready, will present it to Biden, Trump, Harris next week
