(Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s remarks at The Reagan Institute in Washington D.C.)
“It’s time to step out of the shadows, to make strong decisions, work to act and not to wait for November or any other month. To this end, we must be strong and uncompromising all together. And first of all, America. And first of all, the leaders of America and the president of the United States as the leader of the free world, to be uncompromising in defending democracy, uncompromising against Putin and his coterie, uncompromising to every possible terror. Exactly what all Ukraine is we are on the 24th of February, 2022. Millions of the people of the world and millions, millions of Americans. Americans. Exactly what President Biden and the Congress were on the 24th of February.”
“And now we all need exactly this leadership that does not wait for any Novembers, but acts, acts now, acts every day strongly so that life wins. And so that our enemies, such as Putin, fear our actions.”
“Imagine how much we can achieve when all limitations are lifted. Similarly, and now we can protect our cities from Russian guided bombs if American leadership makes a step forward and allows us to destroy Russian military aircrafts on their bases. This will also yield an instant result. And we are waiting for this step. And we can significantly limit Russian access in southern Ukraine and boost the occupier out of there if American leadership assists us with the necessary deep strike capabilities against Russian military and logistics in our Ukraine and Crimea.”
“Biden and Trump are very different, but they are supportive (of) democracy. And that’s why I think Putin will hate both of them. I think so, but I think that both of them have to understand it, not to count on his attitude.”
“I don’t know who will be the president of the United. Yeah. I hope that the United States will never go out from the NATO, otherwise, the world will lose a lot of countries, a lot of countries, because such people like Putin, who will lose small countries which count on America in NATO.”
“I hope that United States will never seriously think, will never seriously think to go out from NATO. I think so, but it’s not my decision. I’m just sharing my thoughts. And I hope that if people of America will vote for President Trump, I hope that his policy with Ukraine will not change. It will not change.
An interviewer asked him, You don’t think you can solve it in one day? “I don’t know,” he responded, “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know him very well. You know, I don’t know. I had meetings with him, and we had good meetings when he was the president, but we didn’t went — I don’t know, maybe I’m not right in English — but we didn’t went through the war with him. And only during the war, you have to understand can you count on somebody or not?”
“That’s why I can’t tell you. I mean, what you will do if you will be the president of the United States. I don’t know.”
“It’s like this dialog about F-16. You know, it’s like about to speak that, that’s great, the powerful decision to give Ukrainians F-16. To give what number? (Interviewer Says: They’re Coming This Summer, Right?) I hope so. You know, we always wait. Like my mother waited (for) me after school, and I always found the reason how to come later. This is this is this is the same, but much more serious.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday (July 9) he could not predict what Donald Trump would do if elected to a second term as U.S. president in November, adding he did not know Trump well but hoped America’s support to Kyiv would not change.
Zelenskiy urged U.S. political leaders in Washington not to wait for the outcome of America’s November presidential election to move forcefully to aid his country against Russia’s invasion.
Team Bharatshakti
(With Inputs from Reuters)
