Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed alarming concerns over the potential escalation of Russia’s war beyond Ukraine’s borders, suggesting that if unchecked, Russian aggression could swiftly spread to NATO member states. The statement from the Ukrainian leader comes amid continued conflict and as nations around the world deliberate the extent of their support for Ukraine.
In a candid conversation with a news team in Eastern Ukraine, amid the backdrop of a bombed-out building, Zelenskyy conveyed a sense of precarious stability achieved through the winter months. He acknowledged that while Ukrainian forces had managed to hold off Russian advances, “some villages” could not be saved from destruction. The president underscored the urgent need for support to defend against a major Russian offensive he expects around the end of May or in June, saying, “We not only need to prepare, we not only need to stabilize the situation… We need help now.”
Highlighting the disparities in artillery capability, Zelenskyy pointed to the longer reach of Russian firepower, stressing the dire need for American Patriot missile defense systems and more artillery to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.
Zelenskyy’s remarks take on a chilling tone as he contemplates the implications of Ukraine’s fall. “For [Putin], we are a satellite of Russian Federation. At the moment, it’s us, then Kazakhstan, then Baltic states, then Poland, then Germany. At least half of Germany,” he stated, painting a picture of Putin’s broader ambitions which, according to Zelenskyy, are aimed at restoring the former Soviet Union to its imperial borders. “This aggression, and Putin’s army, can come to Europe, and then the citizens of the United States, the soldiers of the United States, will have to protect Europe because they’re the NATO members.”
The Ukrainian president argued that Russia’s invasion is an attack “against the democracy, against the values, against the whole world,” and warned that the conflict could escalate “very quickly” to European territories and potentially involve the United States.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has not only been rallying military support but also calling for economic aid and private investment to reconstruct Ukraine. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he pressed Ukraine’s case for continued aid before an international audience, at a time when ongoing support from allies shows signs of fragility amid war fatigue and upcoming elections in Europe and the U.S.
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns Putin will push Russia’s war “very quickly” onto NATO soil if he’s not stopped
– Russia-Ukraine latest: Moscow claims to have evidence Ukraine funded concert attack; military plane crashes into sea, Sky News, Sat, 23 Mar 2024 19:07:01 GMT
– Putin has stolen years of peace, Zelenskyy says; Ukraine’s foreign minister muses about ‘punching’ Russia’s Lavrov, CNBC, Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT
– CNN: Biden warns top lawmakers that US soldiers on the line if Russia, Euromaidan Press, Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT