Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has answered questions from international media

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has answered questions from international media at a #Kyiv metro station. Our reporter Zhou Jiaxin asked him about the #UN chief’s upcoming visit to Kyiv, as well as weapon deliveries to the country from the #US and its allies.

Zelensky’s answer in key points:

-On Guterres’s visit: “One cannot balance #Ukraine and #Russia. We expect 100 percent support from the UN Secretary General, 100 percent.”

-On Guterres’s visit: “If the Secretary General has time, he should definitely first visit our cities where people were tortured and where our people were killed. He needs to understand what is taking place here.“

-On weapon supplies: “Since the start of the war, Russia also supplied weapons to us. You remember how they were running away leaving their tanks behind. We are ‘grateful’ to them for those weapon supplies.”

#RussiaUkraineCrisis

Full transcript:

CGTN reporter Zhou Jiaxin: “Mr. President, you have reiterated readiness for peace talks with Russia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres now plans to visit Moscow and Kyiv on a ceasefire. We also noticed reports saying the US and its allies have centered on weapons. Moscow thinks that your continuous appeal for military support from NATO members is adding fuel to the fire and can be seen as a deterrent to negotiations. Can you please comment on that?”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: 

“We will meet the UN Secretary General who will come to visit us, and we will talk. It seems to me that we have taken lots of steps to change his position in particular, to make it even stronger in regards to support for Ukraine. I've had several personal meetings with him and I am rather firm in saying that one cannot balance Ukraine and Russia. We expect 100 percent support from the UN Secretary General, 100 percent. Because truth is 100 percent on our side and the war is happening in Ukraine. I think when he comes to visit and if the Secretary General has time, given his very respected status, he should definitely first visit our cities where people were tortured and where our people were killed, and then he will find time for the esteemed and respectful colleagues from Russia. I think it is more important to understand what is happening here, to have a very precise perspective which the Secretary General can bring and deliver to a meeting with the Russian president. Because if he just comes to Kyiv and talks, it's not enough. So, I believe that first he needs to understand what is taking place here. This is the reason why many leaders, like the chancellor of Austria, I always offered that if they go to Russia, to Moscow, first they should understand what is happening here if they are speaking about real assistance and support, not about political tourism. When he sees what is going on here, his opinion about Ukraine will be even stronger. As for the weapon supplies, we are definitely not interested in the opinion of the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, since the start of the war, Russia also supplied weapons to us. You remember how they were running away leaving their tanks behind. We are "grateful" to them for those weapon supplies. “