Zelenskyy said Friday in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper from the president’s office in Kyiv that his country had no guarantee that Russia would not try to take Kyiv again if it was able to capture Donbass.
“Therefore, it is very important that we do not allow them to assert themselves, because this battle … can affect the course of the entire war,” Zelenskyy said.
“Because I don’t trust the Russian military and Russian leadership,” he continued. “Therefore, we understand that the fact that we fought them off and they left and they ran away from Kyiv – from the north, from Chernihiv and from that direction – it doesn’t mean whether they are able to conquer it Donbass, they will not come any further to Kyiv.”
Zelensky’s interview with CNN on Friday, more than seven weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, comes as Ukraine’s military recorded victories in resisting the Russian offensive that surprised US intelligence — and a Kremlin that had planned a quick and swift attack decisive victory.
When asked by Tapper whether Ukraine would be victorious in the conflict, Zelenskyy said: “Yes, of course, and it will be.”
At the same time, however, Ukraine has suffered horrific civilian casualties during fighting across the country. Zelenskyy told CNN that the world should be prepared for the possibility that Putin would use a tactical nuclear weapon because he doesn’t value Ukrainians’ lives. Zelenskyy spoke in both Ukrainian and English about the horrors his country has endured and the urgent help his military still needs to repel the coming Russian offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine. US President Joe Biden said last week that the killings of civilians by Russian forces appeared to amount to genocide.
“I have the same opinion as President Biden,” Zelenskyy said. “Look what happened in Bucha. It’s clear that it’s not even a war, it’s a genocide. They only killed people. No soldiers, people. They just shot people down the street. There were bodies lining the streets.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has diplomatically engaged Putin, said in response to Biden’s comments on the genocide that he did not think addressing the rhetoric was constructive. Zelenskyy said he had spoken to Macron over the past week and wanted him to visit Ukraine to see the atrocities firsthand.
“I think he wants to take some steps to ensure that Russia enters the dialogue. I just told him that I want him to understand that this is not a war, but nothing more than genocide,” Zelenskyy said. “I invited him to come if he had the chance. He’ll come and see it and I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Zelenskyy said he also wanted Biden to come to Ukraine. The US President last week suggested he wanted to leave, although he said US officials were still “in discussions” about whether a senior US official would visit Ukraine.
“I think he will,” Zelensky said of Biden when asked if there were plans for the US President to visit. “Of course I mean his decision. And besides, the security situation depends on it – I mean that – but I think he’s the leader of the United States and that’s why he should come here to see it.”
Asked about a video released last week showing a Ukrainian woman finding her son’s body in a well, Zelenskyy said: “It’s the most horrifying thing I’ve seen in my life.” He became emotional when he spoke about the deaths caused by the war in Ukraine and said it was “a great pain for me” to see the lives lost. Zelensky, who lost his family in the Holocaust, was asked what he thought of politicians around the world saying “never again” on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, given events in his country.
“I don’t believe the world,” he said in English. “We don’t believe the words. After Russia’s escalation, we don’t believe our neighbors. We don’t believe any of this.”
“The only belief there is is belief in ourselves, in our people, belief in our armed forces and belief that countries will support us not only with their words but also with their deeds,” Zelenskyy continued in Ukrainian. “And that was it. Never again. Really, everyone is talking about it and yet, as you can see, not everyone has the courage.”
More help needed
Zelensky said the $800 million in additional funding Biden approved last week to go to Ukraine to get new and more advanced weapons is helpful — but more is needed.
“Of course we need more. But I’m happy that he’s helping us now,” said Zelenskyy. “I feel like we’re having a cleaner dialogue right now. It was dialogue that had some twists and turns. And not just speeches. It was very, very difficult because there aren’t many countries that really helped us.”
Zelensky said the most important factor is speed to get needed weapons into the hands of Ukrainian forces. He dismissed some concerns expressed by the US and other countries that Ukraine’s soldiers are not trained to use some of the weapons the country is demanding.
“There are people who offer solutions, but it seems that they are only selfish. So it’s not up to us,” said Zelenskyy. “We are ready to use any kind of equipment, but it has to be delivered very quickly. And we have the ability to learn how to use new equipment. But it has to be quick.”
Zelenskyy said he was ready to work diplomatically with Russia to try to end the war, but that Russia’s attacks on Ukrainians make that difficult.
“Like I said, what’s the price for all of this? It’s people. The many people who were killed. And who ends up paying for all of this? It’s Ukraine. Only us,” said Zelenskyj. “So for us it’s a really big prize. If there is an opportunity to speak, we will speak. But only speaking under a Russian ultimatum? good or bad.’ It is impossible.”
Zelensky admitted he still has a target from the Kremlin on his back as the war rages on, and Zelensky was asked how he would like to be remembered.
“A man who loved life to the fullest,” he replied. “And loved his family and loved his motherland. Definitely not a hero. I want people to accept me for who I am. A normal person.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report.