As tensions continued to escalate between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made headlines for his impassioned remarks, reaffirming his country’s unwavering resistance to Russian aggression. In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on the renowned program “Meet The Press,” Zelensky adamantly disputed the assertion by Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny that Ukraine was embroiled in a stalemate with Russia’s encroaching military forces. Responding to Welker’s probing question about his resilience amid the ongoing conflict, Zelensky articulated his unwavering determination, citing an internal reservoir of strength and vigor that propelled him forward in the face of adversity.
Emphasizing the profound toll exacted by the protracted warfare, Zelensky underscored the human cost of the conflict, acknowledging the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian people while steadfastly refusing to relinquish their cherished freedom to what he labeled as the abhorrent tactics of “this f*cking terrorist, Putin.”
Amidst the backdrop of heightened international turmoil, with the Israel-Palestine conflict taking center stage in global discourse, Zelensky further escalated the rhetoric by asserting that Russia was extending support to the opposing faction, bolstering other destabilizing entities in the region. Dismissing former American President Donald Trump’s assertions that he could have swiftly resolved the conflict, Zelensky expressed skepticism, highlighting the intricate role played by Russian President Vladimir Putin in perpetuating the ongoing hostilities. In a candid expression of the complexity of the situation, Zelensky outlined the intricate dynamics that influenced the management of the conflict, delineating the conditional nature of potential diplomatic endeavors contingent upon a willingness to safeguard Ukraine’s territorial integrity and preserve its hard-fought independence.
Zelensky’s unwavering commitment to protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and resilience in the face of external threats underscored the gravity of the situation and the enduring challenges facing the nation as it navigated the complexities of regional geopolitics.
“It doesn’t mean that we want to fight all our lives, because the price is high, like I said. Because the war takes the best of us,” Zelensky said. “But we are not ready to give our freedom to this f*cking terrorist, Putin. That’s it. That’s why we are fighting.
“I will need 24 minutes… to explain to President Trump that he can’t manage this war,” Zelensky said. “He can’t bring peace because of Putin. If — but always there is an “if.” If he’s not trying and if he’s not ready to give our territory to this terrible man, to Putin, if you are not ready to give it, if you are not ready to give our independence, he can’t manage it.”
WATCH: @NBCNews reports that U.S. and European officials have quietly begun talks around Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, but Zelenskyy says he is not ready to begin that dialogue with Putin.@ZelenskyyUa: "We can’t trust terrorists because terrorists always come back." pic.twitter.com/aHQXqcQtxJ
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 5, 2023
