Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that if Russia wins the long battle for the city of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian people will “feel tired” and will put pressure “to reach a compromise” with Moscow.
Zelensky underlined that in an interview with the AP so far he has not felt pressured to sign a peace deal with “unacceptable compromises”.
For seven months, the Russian offensive focused on Bakhmut and the Ukrainian head of state admitted on Tuesday that the fall of the city in eastern Ukraine would be a serious political defeat.
“We cannot miss a single step, because war is a marathon (…). Small victories, small steps,” said Zelensky.
Bakhmut’s conquest would enable the Russian president to “proclaim this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran,” the Ukrainian leader said. If Vladimir Putin “sees a little blood – feels we are weak – he will push, push, push,” added.
The Associated Press traveled for two days with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a train through Ukraine. This is what he shared. https://t.co/3NzNtcrBLh
-The Associated Press (@AP) March 29, 2023
The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia and sending weapons to Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that the fortitude of the international community could change not only with the fate of Bakhmut, but also with the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election.
On the Republican side, candidate Donald Trump and likely rival Ron DeSantis have questioned whether Washington should continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and whether the conflict should be a priority for US national security.
Zelensky wants to welcome the Chinese leader to Kiev. “I want to talk to him”
“America really understands that if they stop helping us, we won’t win,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader also said he would be happy to host Xi Jinping, the leader of China, one of Russia’s few allies, in Kiev, who released a so-called peace plan for Ukraine at the end of February.
“We are ready to see you here,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to Xi Jinping. “I want to talk to him. I was in contact with him before the war. But this year, more than a year, I have not been in contact,” he added.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday’s announcement by the Kremlin of an agreement to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Ukraine, was a diversion because Xi Jinping’s visit was “not good for Russia”.
Xi traveled to Moscow last week, where he met Vladimir Putin. He promised moral support and a commercial line, but refrained from supplying weapons to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
Source: DN
