Ukrainian President's Defiant Stance Amid War
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to convey a resolute message of defiance. During our meeting at the government headquarters in Kyiv over the weekend, he asserted that Ukraine would emerge victorious in the ongoing conflict, contrary to any notion of defeat. Zelensky firmly opposed any ceasefire deal proposed by President Vladimir Putin that would require Ukraine to relinquish strategic territories that Russia has been unable to capture despite significant military losses.
According to Zelensky, Putin has already initiated World War Three, and the only viable response is to apply intense military and economic pressure to compel him to retreat.
"I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him... Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves."
When asked about Russia's demand for Ukraine to cede 20% of the eastern Donetsk region, which Ukraine refers to as "fortress cities," along with additional land in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, Zelensky rejected the notion that such concessions would be reasonable even if they led to a ceasefire.
"I see this differently. I don't look at it simply as land. I see it as abandonment - weakening our positions, abandoning hundreds of thousands of our people who live there. That is how I see it. And I am sure that this 'withdrawal' would divide our society."
When pressed on whether such a concession might satisfy Putin, Zelensky responded:
"It would probably satisfy him for a while... he needs a pause... but once he recovers, our European partners say it could take three to five years. In my opinion, he could recover in no more than a couple of years. Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue [the war] is a fact."
Meeting Zelensky in Kyiv's Government Enclave
I met Volodymyr Zelensky in a conference room inside the heavily-guarded government enclave located in a prosperous area of central Kyiv. The interview was conducted primarily in Ukrainian.
The level of security surrounding Zelensky underscores the immense burden of leadership he carries. While visiting any head of state involves stringent security protocols, the measures in place at the presidential buildings in Kyiv are exceptionally rigorous, reflecting the realities of a country at war and a president who has been a direct target of Russian aggression.
Despite these challenges, Zelensky, who began his public life as an entertainer—winning Ukraine's version of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and portraying a fictional Ukrainian president in a television comedy before becoming the actual president—demonstrates remarkable resilience.
US Political Pressure and Ceasefire Talks
On the eve of recent ceasefire negotiations in Geneva, former US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to "come to the table fast," consistently placing more pressure on Ukraine than on Russia. Western diplomats have indicated since last summer that Trump aligns with Putin's view that territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia are essential for a ceasefire, ideally before the upcoming summer.
Many analysts outside the White House also believe Ukraine cannot win the war without making concessions to Moscow.
I asked Zelensky whether Trump and others had a valid point.
"Where are you now?" Zelensky asked in return. "Today you are in Kyiv, you are in the capital of our homeland, you are in Ukraine. I am very grateful for this. Will we lose? Of course not, because we are fighting for Ukraine's independence."
Defining Victory and Global Implications
Zelensky has frequently stated that Ukraine can achieve victory. When asked to define what victory would entail, he emphasized restoring normal lives for Ukrainians and ending the violence. However, he also framed victory in terms of countering a broader global threat posed by Putin.
"I believe that stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world. Because Putin will not stop at Ukraine."
When questioned if victory meant regaining all lost territory, Zelensky was unequivocal:
"We'll do it. That is absolutely clear. It is only a matter of time. To do it today would mean losing a huge number of people - millions of people - because the [Russian] army is large, and we understand the cost of such steps. You would not have enough people, you would be losing them. And what is land without people? Honestly, nothing."
"And we also don't have enough weapons. That depends not just on us, but on our partners. So as of now that's not possible but returning to the just borders of 1991 [the year Ukraine declared its independence, precipitating the final collapse of the Soviet Union] without a doubt, is not only a victory, it's justice. Ukraine's victory is the preservation of our independence, and a victory of justice for the whole world is the return of all our lands."
Trump's Public Rebuke and Shifting US Support
A year ago, Zelensky visited the White House and experienced what one senior Western diplomat described as a pre-planned public "diplomatic mugging" by Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. Their heated exchange, broadcast globally, signaled a shift away from the support Zelensky had previously received from President Joe Biden. NATO members were also warned by the new administration, with Vance recently undermining Western European confidence in the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Since then, reportedly with guidance from Britain's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and others, Zelensky has avoided public confrontations with Trump. Although the US has curtailed most military aid shipments to Ukraine, it continues to provide vital intelligence. European nations are investing billions to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
Addressing Trump's Contradictions and Security Guarantees
I asked Zelensky about Trump's contradictory statements, including false accusations that Zelensky is a dictator who initiated the war, echoing Putin's claims.
"I am not a dictator, and I didn't start the war, that's it."
Regarding trust in President Trump and the reliability of security guarantees, Zelensky noted:
"It is not only President Trump, we're talking about America. We are all presidents for the appropriate terms. We want guarantees for 30 years for example. Political elites will change, leaders will change."
He emphasized the necessity of Congressional approval for such guarantees to ensure their durability beyond any single presidency.
"They will be voted on in Congress for a reason. It's not just presidents. Congress is needed. Because the presidents change, but institutions stay."
In other words, while Trump may be unpredictable, the institutional framework of the US government provides continuity.
Conditions for Elections and Legitimacy Concerns
Zelensky stated that security guarantees must be secured before considering another American demand: holding a general election by summer, a demand that echoes Russian assertions questioning Zelensky's legitimacy. Notably, Trump has not called for elections in Russia, where Putin first assumed leadership on the final day of the 20th century.
Zelensky has not yet decided whether he will run again when elections are held, which were scheduled for 2024 but postponed due to martial law imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion.
He explained that holding elections is technically feasible if legal changes occur but stressed the need for security guarantees first. He also highlighted logistical challenges, such as millions of Ukrainians living abroad as refugees and significant territories under Russian occupation.
When I suggested he might be opposed to elections under current conditions, he replied:
"If this is a condition for ending the war, let's do it. I said, 'honestly, you constantly raise the issue of elections'. I told the partners, 'you need to decide one thing: you want to get rid of me or you want to hold elections? If you want to hold elections, (even if you are not ready to tell me honestly even now), then hold these elections honestly. Hold them in a way that the Ukrainian people will recognise, first of all. And you yourself must recognise that these are legitimate elections'."
Domestic Challenges and Military Needs
Zelensky faces opposition and criticism within Ukraine. Last autumn, his government was shaken by a corruption scandal that led to the departure of his closest adviser. Nonetheless, with a new team, Zelensky maintains approval ratings that surpass those of many Western European leaders.
He has occasionally frustrated allies with persistent requests for increased and improved military equipment. One of the criticisms leveled against him by Trump and Vance during the Oval Office confrontation was a perceived lack of gratitude.
Currently, Zelensky is pressing for permission to manufacture American weapons under license, including Patriot air defense missiles.
"Today the issue is air defence. This is the most difficult problem. Unfortunately, our partners still do not grant licenses for us to produce systems ourselves, for example, Patriot systems, or even missiles for the systems we already have. So far, we have not achieved success in this."
"I don't know. I have no answer."
Outlook on the War's Duration and Conclusion
At the conclusion of the interview, Zelensky switched from Ukrainian to English. When asked if preparations should be made for a prolonged conflict, he responded:
"No, no, no, it's two parallel tracks... you are playing chess with a lot of leaders, not with Russia. There is not one right way. You have to choose a lot of parallel steps, parallel directions. And one of these parallel ways will, I think, bring success. For us, success is to stop Putin."
Regarding Putin's willingness to end the war, Zelensky said:
"Yes and no. We will see. Yes and no. He doesn't want, but doesn't want doesn't mean he will not. God bless. God bless, we will be successful. Thank you."
Following this, Zelensky posed for photographs, shook hands with the BBC team, and departed the room.
