In a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera, the Ukrainian president talks concerning the struggle in his nation and what it’s going to take to finish it.
In an unique interview with Al Jazeera, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed the Russian invasion, a prepare station assault in Kramatorsk, the killings in Bucha and outlined the mandatory steps wanted to finish the struggle.
The Ukrainian president additionally addressed the allegations that he was stopping civilians from utilizing humanitarian corridors resulting in Russia.
Under is a transcript of Zelenskyy’s wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera’s Osman Ayfarah that was filmed on Friday, April 8, 2022. It has barely been edited for brevity and readability.
Al Jazeera: What's your response to the lethal assault on the prepare station in Kramatorsk?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The Russian troopers who shelled the railway station clearly understood that there have been civilians. We all know there have been no troopers over there. They might not say that there have been any troopers there, or any navy items near there, and we clearly understood that they know what they're doing.
Who're they killing? They're killing atypical residents, adults and youngsters. You’ve seen photographs and there’s a video already.
That is yet one more piece of proof and assist for the truth that Russia is capturing and destroying civilians. It’s not about intimidation.
They’ve shelled Kramatorsk. This is among the heroic cities since 2014. We fought for Kramatorsk and the residents of Kramatorsk, and the entire nation fought for Kramatorsk. We keep in mind what was the defence of the Kramatorsk airport because the starting of the struggle, and that occurred earlier than the large-scale invasion.
That was a peaceable metropolis and since my election as president, I’ve been there many instances. And what I can let you know is that one thing like 40 individuals have been already recognized as killed and a few hundred wounded. Nonetheless, the search and rescue operation continues, and sadly, what we will say is that Russia is destroying the civilian inhabitants of Ukraine.
Al Jazeera: How troublesome is it to evacuate civilians when such issues are taking place now?
Zelenskyy: The air raid warning was obtained from the governor and the native authorities. In order that they have been signalling and saying that Russia is making ready for rockets and missile launches. There have been additionally making ready for a large-scale invasion on that a part of the Donbas which is beneath management of the Ukrainian authorities and isn't beneath momentary occupation.
So the native authorities have mentioned that they are going to be serving to individuals to evacuate, they usually have additionally referred to as upon the residents of Ukraine saying that if they've their very own transport, they'll evacuate as a result of there are important dangers corresponding to shelling and bombing and we all know that Russia is relying on a large-scale invasion, although they’re saying that they’re not capturing on the civilian inhabitants.
Normally, at any time when any political chief of Russia is saying that they aren't capturing at civilians – when they're telling that to totally different mass media – I believe that at that second, the inhabitants needs to be making ready themselves.
The [Russian] Minister of Overseas Affairs, [Sergey] Lavrov mentioned whereas addressing Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian inhabitants that there have been fixed falsifications, that Russia shouldn't be preventing and never shelling the civilian inhabitants, that they continued their particular navy operation, as he referred to as it. And I’d say that we began to reply to that in a reasonably skilled means. We’ve provided the individuals of Donbas [support if they don’t want to stay there]. We’ve seen what occurred. There was some shelling and the Russian authorities simply instructed further lies.
Al Jazeera: Have you ever been in a position to evacuate individuals from Mariupol, the place the humanitarian state of affairs could be very unhealthy?
Zelenskyy: For the reason that very starting of the struggle, there have been a number of dangers to quite a lot of cities – and Mariupol was considered one of them. And because the starting of the struggle, the entire metropolis was blocked after which all of the escape routes have been blocked as nicely. And as you completely know, they didn't enable anybody – I’m not speaking concerning the navy – simply anybody from the civilian inhabitants to obtain meals, water and medication.
I’m not speaking about any human assist and help. I’m not speaking about not permitting members of the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross to go to the Mariupol nurses or docs. We might ship the representatives of Ukrainian church buildings to Mariupol, they usually weren't allowed to enter, so the whole lot was blocked. We’ve despatched convoys which have been completely empty with none civilians, they’ve shelled all these convoys.
They allowed civilians to depart the town utilizing any transport that they had. Now our navy, they’re not prepared and keen to depart behind these wounded comrades they've or the civilians. We're all residing individuals. All of us perceive that in case your fellow soldier has died, I imply, you can't merely abandon his physique like a bag of potatoes someplace by the highway and let him rot.
Al Jazeera: They are saying the preventing in the midst of the town is completed, and now that has moved to the port, they've requested the Ukrainian troopers to give up. Do you suppose they're near controlling the entire of Mariupol?
Zelenskyy: Out of the five hundred,000 inhabitants of Mariupol, one thing like 400,000 have both been evacuated or killed.
Now the inhabitants is about 100,000 and there are our bodies of individuals throughout the streets. So talking about capturing, I imply, they have been killing, they entered residences. They’ve occupied this metropolis. They need to seize this metropolis. However for them, capturing the town would imply our forces surrendering the weapons. However at present, we're the place we're. Our troopers are preventing till the very finish, they usually’re not keen to give up. In order that’s the state of affairs as it's for now.
Al Jazeera: They accuse you of stopping civilians from utilizing humanitarian corridors resulting in Russia. How do you reply?
Zelenskyy: This isn't true. That is simply one other lie. That is the selection of the atypical residents. Similar to a selection that's made by the navy. You'll be able to evacuate. I imply, that is the selection made by our navy. I’m not God to inform them what to do with their lives. They’re simply not keen to depart all their fellow troopers and I personally completely perceive them if they're keen to withdraw, to retreat; they've this proper they usually can do this.
And these corridors are open for that, however they’re not keen to go each as navy or civilians to the territory of Russia. Hundreds of individuals went there. A part of the residents went to Russia however the place are these individuals? Some are asking, the place are these kids? Some would say that over 2,000 kids are lacking. We don’t know the place they're.
Then we bought some info that a number of the individuals have been captured by Russians and a few had their Ukrainian passport taken and as a substitute, they got Russian passports. So that's what is occurring. The persons are merely not keen to go in the direction of the Russian Federation. They're compelled to go. It’s both they’re going there or Russians will kill them. So I perceive when somebody goes within the path of Russia, however what is occurring to them afterwards?
Al Jazeera: What's your evaluation of the struggle state of affairs for the time being?
Zelenskyy: I believe we will see that this isn't the top of the struggle. Lots of people’s temper has been raised, they're completely happy as a result of a number of the Ukrainian areas are being liberated. However I don’t suppose it’s excessive time for saying issues like that as a result of a number of settlements and areas are being occupied and lots of people are being killed by the Russian troopers.
And I can see that we’ve repelled a few of their assaults. They didn't take the capital metropolis of Kyiv and another essential cities like Dnipro, Odesa and Kharkiv. In Kharkiv, the state of affairs is way extra sophisticated, the state of affairs could be very sophisticated within the south and naturally, probably the most sophisticated is within the east.
For them [Russians], it’s essential to manage Mariupol, they're keen to destroy the entire troopers in Mariupol then they might proceed to the east with a view to attempt to encompass a big variety of Ukrainian troopers with a view to destroy all of that.
Al Jazeera: The Russian troops did withdraw from Kyiv and round Kyiv. Do you suppose the capital metropolis continues to be beneath menace?
Zelenskyy: It’s exhausting to say. If our forces in Donbas received’t be capable of maintain their positions, then the danger of a repeated offensive in opposition to Kyiv is possible.
Al Jazeera: Would you say the negotiations are transferring ahead?
Zelenskyy: It’s not a standstill and the negotiations are persevering with, however on the similar time, they're slowing down and I don’t see any precise outcomes of the negotiations, as of now.
Al Jazeera: Has your place modified after what we’ve seen in Bucha?
Zelenskyy: Because the chief of the nation, I have to do the whole lot doable to cease the struggle. Negotiations are the best way to cease the bloodshed, if not the one means, and it’s the diplomatic path for stopping the struggle.
Al Jazeera: A video has emerged wherein Ukrainian troopers appear to be executing Russian troopers within the woods. So the Russians are saying Ukrainians are additionally committing struggle crimes. What do it's a must to say about this explicit video and are you investigating this?
Zelenskyy: Look, it’s exhausting for me to touch upon any particular video. We're all sufficient individuals.
To start with, any movies, any instances like that, it’s both we will hear one thing or it’s both one thing has been demonstrated to us because the starting of 2014, and on a time-to-time foundation, Russia was committing these informational assaults in opposition to Ukraine with a view to justify their reactions to the Russian inhabitants. I’m not going to speak particularly on this or that event.
Our troopers, significantly the armed forces of Ukraine, don’t have any cause or any sense to behave in that method in the direction of Russian troopers.
Al Jazeera: Russia desires the Safety Council to satisfy and focus on this, one thing that the UK has refused. Do you assist such conferences?
Zelenskyy: I’m not afraid of any classes of the UN Safety Council, I simply imagine that Russia has no proper to dictate something to anybody and organise something. They may begin discussing, however with out the ultimatums, with out circumstances, with out accusations. Solely in that case, when Russia will withdraw their forces from our territory, then, like every other individual within the civilised world, they'll go to the UN Safety Council or the Worldwide Felony Courtroom or to different worldwide establishments with requests, with appeals, with proposals.
You'll be able to’t simply stand there and occupy the land of one other territory after which dictate circumstances. That is inconceivable. That’s why they have been refused. They weren't refused due to this or that situation. The UK was completely proper to reject them, not as a result of they’re pals, they might assist any nation who could be going through an identical state of affairs as a result of they perceive what the regulation is, what sovereignty is.
Al Jazeera: Russia desires Ukraine to be a impartial state. You agree with that. However what's your understanding of that neutrality? What are you keen to simply accept as an answer for this complete battle and struggle?
Zelenskyy: To start with, we all the time wished to have safety ensures, some particular agreements, and a few particular safety guarantors. These are the nations that might be capable of assure some particular instances beneath particular circumstances and circumstances. All of the residents of Ukraine want to have these safety ensures.
Russia has imposed an ultimatum. Then it withdrew from an ultimatum when it didn't seize Kyiv in three days. Effectively, if Russia would be capable of occupy Kyiv, we wouldn’t be speaking about neutrality or non-block standing. We might be speaking about various things.
However we wish some particular safety ensures – who would help us and the way, if there could be an invasion – and there could possibly be even one other method, particular agreements that may be sure that Russia will clearly not need to violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Al Jazeera: Do you remorse that Ukraine gave up its nuclear capabilities when it signed the Budapest Memorandum in 1994?
Zelenskyy: Sure. All these nations with nuclear weapons now, they’re not being captured. So if Ukraine gave up these weapons, they need to have particular ensures from a selected nation – that needs to be a really particular authorized settlement with very particular provisions on legal responsibility for violating this or that settlement.
In our case, that was the Budapest Memorandum. How may you surrender the weapons in such a means, with out signing any severe doc, simply making an enormous current for what?
What did we obtain? We obtained struggle. And this is among the causes we've got turn into weaker. We now have weakened our standing, our defence, our inhabitants. That is what we've got given away. We now have given away the lives of these individuals who died.
Al Jazeera: Will you search to have such weapons sooner or later?
Zelenskyy: No, I’m assured we’re not going to have the ability to search these weapons. That’s not our methodology. That’s not one thing on our thoughts.
Al Jazeera: You mentioned you wanted ensures. Now, is there any nation that has agreed to behave as a guarantor? And if the reply is sure, then what kind of ensures?
Zelenskyy: There are various nations who're keen to assist Ukraine and turn into safety ensures each at present and sooner or later. I can't offer you any extra particulars till we've got reached an settlement, however I can provide the record of the potential safety guarantors. These are the UK, Poland, america. Then Turkey, Italy, then I believe that this settlement could be inconceivable with out the Russian Federation however that’s one other story.
I do know that Eire and another nations wished to think about turning into safety guarantors. We can even ask for China. France and Germany are also conscious of this example, and to date they're exhibiting some type of respect and assist. However along with assist and help, we have to have very detailed negotiations with a view to perceive which nation is able to present which particular assist and help and ensures.
Al Jazeera: You’ve all the time mentioned that you just wished to satisfy Vladimir Putin. If he was listening to you, what would you prefer to say to the Russian president?
Zelenskyy: I’m able to have this assembly. As for the doable matters for our dialog, nicely, positively not concerning the climate.
We don’t have a optimistic local weather in our negotiations. The state of affairs in Bucha and in lots of different cities has put an finish in that there needs to be a realistic dialogue with some resolve that needs to be reached.
What Ukraine actually desires, Russia shouldn't be keen to provide, and all that Russia desires, we've got already confirmed that we aren't prepared to surrender.
So we'd be discussing the struggle, once we would put an finish to this struggle, beneath which circumstances, when they may withdraw their forces from our territory, the problem of Crimea, and the problem of Donbas. We want to return our territories they usually’re not contemplating these territories as a part of Ukraine. They imagine these are unbiased territories or Russian territories so in these negotiations, that is what we're going to focus on.
Al Jazeera: For those who enable me to finish with this private query. You're an artist and actor. You’re not a navy basic. Now this can be a struggle and you've got seen so many troublesome issues, like our bodies within the streets of Bucha. You're the chief of this nation. It’s powerful for everyone. How do you as a human being, emotionally take care of all of this?
Zelenskyy: As a residing individual, I really feel ache. In sure instances, you simply get used to that and to a sure diploma, it’s a pity that I’m getting used to issues like that. That I have a look at sure issues that I believe not a single individual would have been imagining that they might be taking a look at. I believe it’s a query of who you might be and it’s not associated to the career that you just’ve completed or what you’ll be doing sooner or later.
It’s whether or not you are feeling your self as a citizen of this nation, whether or not you are feeling your self as an individual with dignity, whether or not you'll be able to let your self run away when any person is left behind, whether or not it's a must to defend your personal land, regardless of how massive it's or whether or not you need to help when a baby is asking for assist, even when there's a menace. So it’s a query of who you might be.
A career is about various things. It’s a career to be a citizen of our nation. That’s a very powerful career and at present, I’m grateful to this career, to the truth that many individuals in Ukraine are true residents of Ukraine, and many individuals are feeling themselves because the true residents of Ukraine.
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