Any kind of victory of Russia can be dangerous: Zelensky
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Zelensky said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press (AP) that if Bakhmut is captured by Russian forces, its President Vladimir Putin “will brag about this victory to the West, to his society, to China and Iran.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Tuesday that Russia could start rallying international support for a deal that could cost Ukraine unacceptable compromises if his country does not win the battle in the key eastern city. He also invited the leader of China, a longtime ally of Russia, to visit. Zelensky said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press (AP) that if Bakhmut is captured by Russian forces, its President Vladimir Putin “will brag about this victory to the West, to his society, to China and Iran.”
Zelensky said in an interview given online, “If he senses at all that we are weakening, he will suppress us.” Russia has surprised the world by giving a befitting reply to the huge armed Russian army. Ukraine’s military continues to hold the country’s capital, Kiev, and has also forced Russia to retreat from other strategically important areas. Zelensky is well aware that international military aid, especially from the US and Western European countries, has a hand in his country’s success.
However, some leaders, including former US President Donald Trump and a candidate for the 2024 election, have questioned whether the US should continue to supply Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid. Zelensky, without naming Donald Trump or any other leader of the Republican Party, said that if the Republican Party wins the 2024 election in the US, he is worried that the change of power in the country could affect the war. “America really understands that if they stop helping us, we can’t win,” he said.
Some Western military experts have suggested that Bakhmut is not strategically important. But Zelensky has warned that if the war is lost anywhere at this point, it could put Ukraine at risk. He said, “We cannot retrace our steps as small victories in this war can take us forward. Small victories, small steps.” He feared that if Bakhmut loses, there will be an immediate reaction from both the international community and the domestic level. He said, “Our society will feel tired. Our society will pressurize me to compromise with them.
Zelensky said, however, that he has not felt any such pressure so far. Since Russia’s invasion of February 24, 2022, leaders of several countries have visited Ukraine. In an interview with the AP, Zelensky also invited the strategically important Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit Ukraine. They said, “We want to see him here.” They said, “I want to talk to him.” I talked to him before this war. But for this one year or more I have not spoken to him.
China has been leaning towards Russia economically and politically for decades and has provided political security to Putin by adopting a neutral position in the war. Asked whether Xi would accept Zelensky’s invitation or someone would be officially sent there, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that she could not say anything about it. He said Beijing would “maintain dialogue” with all relevant parties, including Ukraine.
Xi visited Russia last week, fueling fears that Beijing could potentially help Moscow make up for shortfalls in arms and ammunition if needed. But Xi’s visit ended without any such announcement. A few days later, Putin announced that he would deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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