Zelenskyy Rules Out 'Territorial Compromises' As Russia Strikes Ukraine Eyeing Bakhmut Capture
Zelenskyy dismissed "territorial compromises" to end the Russia-Ukraine war saying that it would make Ukraine "weaker as a state". He also ruled out having a dialogue with Putin as "there's no trust".
New Delhi: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was not willing to give up any of the country's territory in a potential peace deal with Russia. This statement came as Russia rained missiles across Ukraine on Thursday, also striking its largest oil refinery, as per Kyiv.
In an interview with the BBC to mark a year since Russia's invasion, Zelenskyy warned conceding land would mean Russia could "keep coming back", while Western weapons would bring peace closer.
He also mentioned that a predicted spring offensive had already begun.
"Russian attacks are already happening from several directions," he said, as per the BBC.
As per the Ukrainian President the country's forces can keep resisting Russia's advance until they are able to launch a counter-offensive.
"Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands," he told the BBC, repeating calls for more military aid from the West.
"Today, our survival is our unity," he said. "I believe Ukraine is fighting for its survival," he added. His country was moving towards Europe economically, as well as through its values, he mentioned.
"We chose this path. We want security guarantees. Any territorial compromises would make us weaker as a state," the Ukrainian President asserted.
"It's not about compromise itself," he said. "Why would we be afraid of that? We have millions of compromises in life every day," he added.
"The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there's no trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there's no trust," Zelenskyy asserted.
Russia Strikes Ukraine Eyeing Bakhmut's Capture
Russia began striking Ukraine with a barrage of missiles on Thursday as the head of the Wagner mercenary group predicted the long-besieged city of Bakhmut would take weeks if not months to fall, news agency Reuters reported.
Following a pattern of heavy bombardments after Ukraine's gains in battlefield or diplomacy, Russia launched 36 missiles in the early hours, Ukraine's Air Force informed.
This came as NATO alliance officials met and discussed plans for extending more military aid to Kyiv. As per Reuters, Britain and Poland agreed after their leaders met on Thursday that the support should be stepped up in the coming weeks.
The Russian missiles triggered air-raid sirens as they landed across Ukraine, including at the Kremenchuk refinery. The extent of damage was unclear there. About 16 missiles were shot down, the Air Force mentioned, a lower rate than normal.
According to Ukraine, the barrage included three KH-31 missiles and one Oniks anti-ship cruise missile, which its air defences cannot shoot down, Reuters reported.
Russia had also shelled more than two dozen eastern and southern settlements, the general staff later said.
Notably, Belarus, which allowed Russia to use its territory to send troops into Ukraine at the beginning of the war, said that it would only fight alongside its ally if it was attacked.
Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko threatened to wage war alongside Russian troops from his territory if a single Ukrainian soldier crossed the border.
"I hope [Belarus] won't join [the war]," Zelenskyy told the BBC. "If it does, we will fight and we will survive." Allowing Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for an attack again would be a "huge mistake", he added.
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