Zelensky blames the West for the Russian military operation

The lack of international assistance to Ukraine would lead to divisions in Europe and NATO, which would threaten a new division of the world, warned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

In an interview with the German media group ARD, the president of the Slavic country outlined the consequences of the interruption of international aid to Ukraine both for his own country and for the world.
He assured that, given the blockage of new financing by the US, “Europe will not be able to provide assistance at the level that Ukraine received, neither in weapons nor in finance.”

At the same time, he indicated that the interruption of US aid caused by internal political divisions “has a negative influence on some European leaders.”

Therefore, the cessation of assistance by the US would result, first, in a lack of weapons and finances for Ukraine, second, in the weakening of the union between the US and Europe, and, thirdly, that Europe itself realizes that, if Ukraine fails and Putin advances, it will be left alone to confront Russia, the Ukrainian leader said.

“It will be a serious threat, and Putin will take advantage of it 100% and this will be a sign that NATO will not be that strong either, because if the US breaks away, someone else will have a different opinion about NATO,” he said.

The US has a strong influence on sanctions policy, he recalled, therefore, its withdrawal of support will have consequences in this regard, and would lead to the realignment of forces in the world.

Zelensky also spoke about German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that he understands that if Ukraine fails in its resistance, Russia will be closer to Germany.

«I can’t tell you where it will happen. In Germany, on the borders of Poland or in the Baltic? I can’t tell you. And I can’t tell you who, God forbid, he will be the first on that path. But I think the chancellor realizes that there is that risk. And it is, definitely, World War III. Wherever Russia attacks, this or that NATO country, it would in any case mean the beginning of the Third World War,” he asserted.

“The West allowed Moscow to start”

At the same time, Zelensky pointed out the responsibility of the West in the military operation that Russia launched against Ukraine in February 2022.

According to him, the prerequisites were formed when Western countries did not react appropriately to the reunification of Crimea with Russia by the referendum in 2014.

“The weak reaction of the West in 2014 allowed Moscow to start in 2022,” he explained.
Mobilization practices

Asked about the measures developed to swell the military ranks and ensure rotation at the front, Zelensky replied that they are waiting for a draft law on the matter from the Ministry of Defense.

He acknowledged that “there are cases” of Army representatives who walk the streets looking for children who do not go to military police stations. He claimed to oppose these practices, and asked the military and deputies to opt for a more modern way of recruiting.

«That is, we live in an era of digitalization, and we are a very digitalized country, and we established this process during covid-19, and in the war. “It is not a question of resolving this issue in the modern world,” he said.

Pay Ukraine, not Ukrainians

Zelensky called on Ukrainians of mobilization age who left the country after the start of the war conflict to return to Ukraine, and stressed that this does not necessarily mean that they should be on the front.

«It is a question of justice, these people must pay taxes, there are people who left and did not return, and did not return to their jobs and this is their right. But, if they are citizens of Ukraine, they have to pay taxes,” he said.

He specified that the people who left the country took the money abroad. Meanwhile, the assistance they receive from the governments of the countries where they stay remains outside Ukraine. Therefore, it would be much better if such governments provided this money to the Ukrainian budget, which would redistribute these funds depending on where one person or another is, he clarified. With RT

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