cover of episode Extra: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's Full Interview With FOX News' Trey Yingst

Extra: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's Full Interview With FOX News' Trey Yingst

2024/11/23
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The Fox News Rundown

Key Insights

Why is unity among Ukraine, the United States, and Europe crucial for Ukraine's survival?

Unity is vital because it ensures continued support and prevents Russia from exploiting divisions. Zelenskyy emphasized that losing unity could mean losing Ukraine.

What does Zelenskyy believe is the most dangerous aspect of the current war situation?

Zelenskyy fears the potential loss of unity among European countries and between Ukraine and the United States, which he sees as critical to Ukraine's survival.

How does Zelenskyy view the potential for a diplomatic solution to end the war?

Zelenskyy wants peace but insists on a strong position before negotiations. He believes a weak stance would result in unfavorable compromises for Ukraine.

What role does Zelenskyy see for the United States in ending the war with Russia?

Zelenskyy believes the U.S. has significant influence, particularly through economic measures like reducing energy prices and imposing sanctions on Russian energy resources.

What is Zelenskyy's stance on the possibility of negotiating with Putin over Crimea?

Zelenskyy is open to diplomatic solutions for Crimea but insists on a strong position. He acknowledges the difficulty of reclaiming Crimea militarily.

Why did Zelenskyy criticize German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for speaking with Putin?

Zelenskyy views such calls as undermining the unity needed to pressure Putin. He believes coordination among allies is crucial before engaging in diplomatic talks.

What does Zelenskyy expect from President-elect Trump regarding the war?

Zelenskyy hopes Trump can quickly stop the war but acknowledges the complexity. He expects Trump to understand Ukraine's need for strong security guarantees.

What is Zelenskyy's view on the potential for World War III due to the conflict?

Zelenskyy believes the involvement of countries like North Korea and Iran in supplying Russia with weapons increases the risk of escalation into a global conflict.

How does Zelenskyy perceive the support from the United States and Europe?

Zelenskyy is grateful but notes that only half of the promised aid has been delivered. He emphasizes the importance of full support to maintain Ukraine's strength.

What does Zelenskyy believe should be the response if Putin uses nuclear weapons?

Zelenskyy thinks the international community, including the U.S. and EU, should immediately remove Putin from power and end his regime to prevent further aggression.

Chapters

President Zelensky discusses the most difficult periods of the war, the importance of unity, and the challenges Ukraine faces on the eastern front.
  • The most difficult period was the first days of the war when Ukraine was partially occupied.
  • Unity in Ukraine and support from the United States and Europe are crucial to saving Ukraine.
  • Russia has made small advances in the east, creating a challenging situation for Ukraine.

Shownotes Transcript

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I'm Evan Brown. The war between Ukraine and Russia has been raging for more than a thousand days. Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yinks spoke exclusively with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this past Tuesday during a recent trip to the country. Zelensky weighed in on a great deal of issues facing his war-torn nation, including its struggle to remain united after years of war with Russia.

and concerns about his nation losing support from the United States and their European allies. He also discussed President Biden recently authorizing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles deeper into Russia and what he expects from the incoming Trump administration, as well as the threat of the conflict igniting World War III.

Since Trey's interview, the war has escalated further, including Russia's use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile in Ukraine on Thursday. But President Zelensky was candid about a wide range of issues, and we thought it was important for you to hear all of it here on the Fox News Rundown Extra. You can also catch Trey discussing his conversation with President Zelensky from this Thursday's Fox News Rundown Evening Edition by going to foxnewsrundown.com.

Thanks for listening, and please follow the Weekday Rundown podcast if you haven't already. But for now, here is Trey Yink's exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the Fox News Rundown Extra. President Zelensky, thank you for speaking with Fox News. Thank you very much. Thanks, Fox News, that you're here.

Today you and I visited the Eastern Front lines. Your soldiers are currently repelling Russian attacks at multiple different locations. It's been a thousand days since the invasion began. How would you describe the current state of the war? Very difficult period. Really, sometimes we compare is it the most difficulties or not. I think the most difficult was the first days of the war.

Because we've been, you know, circle of Russian troops was around the capital and mostly Ukraine was occupied. Not all our country, but everybody didn't know what will be. Yes, I think that was the most difficult period. But now this period, this moment depends, I think, on our unity in Ukraine.

And I think that what is very dangerous is if we will lose unity in Europe and what is most important, the unity between Ukraine and the United States also. So to save this unity, I think it means to save Ukraine.

This is such period. So Russia, they had success on the east on some directions, not very big steps, but anyway steps forward, not back.

This is the problem for us. We need some issues, some things to stabilize the situation on the east. On other directions, so in Kursk they lost really control of their region and they don't have for today perspective for very quick de-occupation. It's about Korea and then etc. We can speak about it.

The situation, I think, the most important thing, and I'm very focused on it, and really I see and I'm a little bit afraid of it, about not to lose the unity in the world. When you look at the situation on the ground, we saw today it's very challenging given how large the front line is, 600 miles long.

Open source intelligence right now indicates that Russian forces are advancing faster at this period than they have since the beginning of the war in the east. In your opinion, who's winning the war? In my opinion, we don't have any kind of way like not to win because it means to lose the Ukraine because he will never stop. We have to understand Putin will never stop.

I understand some voices in Europe and in the United States that maybe we can have some dialogue and to freeze. We have to understand that he doesn't want any peace. He will use any free situation to prepare and to continue occupation. That's why we need to stabilize and we need to be strong. If Ukraine will be strong, Ukraine will be ready

for any steps, offensive steps or diplomatic steps, any steps, but if we are strong. I don't see now that we are very strong because of the unity, because of some deficit of weapon, because of the problems with, for example, you said about...

situation on the East about long border and a lot of Russian troops, yes. But if we even speak about FPV drones, which is very useful for today on the front, new technological war, that's why. When you speak about FPV, I can tell you very openly that I know the China market, they closed a lot of FPVs for Ukraine. That's true.

Not maybe openly, not diplomatically, but they found. And Russia has access to this market. And for today, even a million, when we have more than a million FPVs on the front, which is very important, this is alternative for artillery. Yes, but it's not enough.

But I want to ask you though, where things stand today. Do you feel that Ukraine is winning the war? For today, I think we are standing on the moment when you can lose or you can win. It's really very near because if

the morale will decrease of our soldiers. And if we will not get support from our allies, we will lose. Do you want to see a diplomatic solution to end the war? If I see it? Yeah, do you want a diplomatic solution to end the war? Of course we want peace. And of course we understand that we need diplomatic way of dialogue. Otherwise we can't stop the war.

Because we will not have enough troops to push Russians out. And Russians will not have, I mean, this enough quality and prepare people to occupy us for today. So that's why I think that we need just to be in a strong status.

So we have to be really strong so that we could sit at the table of negotiations. And if we are weak, that would be really an issue for us because then there will be a compromise which is not of use for us. And the end of the war will be just...

according to the interests of Ukraine, without the interests of Ukraine. And Russia would want Ukraine never to join NATO so that Russia could fire under control the maximum amount of our territories. But for them, I do apologize for that, but for them, that is just a break, a pause in their wishes. They are willing only to totally destroy us.

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Last week you criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for speaking on the phone with Russian President Putin. Why? I knew that he'd make a call. We had a meeting and he told me that he's going to. And I told him that...

According to my opinion, that is really a Pandora's box. Putin's isolation is also the pressure against him. We fight not only by weapons, as you properly said, by diplomacy. Diplomacy is so important, and only diplomacy can end this war. But what is this diplomacy if we are losing this unity? And we are losing unity. The issue is not in his...

phone call, which is just one. But because it gives the opportunity for others to do the same. We need to prepare Ukraine. We need to make a deal that we have the following plan. It should be our war, common vision with the Allies, how we can end the war diplomatically, and only then we can act. But, sir, how can you have diplomacy without talking?

No, no. We're talking. But after you know what will be, what will be soon, what chancellor got after phone call. Nothing. Nothing new. And so your position right now is that Western leaders should not be speaking with Putin?

I think that first we need to make a deal to coordinate the activity with the leaders, with the European leaders, and then we need to turn on all the mechanisms, both phone calls and dialogues and intelligence data between us. Let us be sincere. Intelligence of Western leaders, intelligence of Western leaders, they had contact

on the level of intelligence during this war with Russian side. They had a lot. Europe, United States, everybody they had. But it was not against the political isolation of Putin. It was on the level of intelligence. We knew about it.

And we never said publicly about it that we are against that you speak on the level of attention. It's another way of diplomacy. Another way. You can speak because you need to exchange people, to exchange civilians or warriors, etc. You can speak about corridor, how to do food security for all the world. You have to speak not to attack

I'm sure that as of today,

It depends on Putin. Really, a lot. He can do that. He can be willing and end this war. But it also depends on the United States of America much more. Putin is weaker than...

the United States of America. The President of the United States of America has the strength and authorities and the weapons, and he can decrease the price for the energy resources. By the way, I heard this signal in the media from President Trump that he is thinking to decrease the price for energy resources, for oil.

And it is needed to be done. And also, they need to introduce sanctions for the energy resources of the Russian Federation. This is what feeds his budget, the budget of Putin. That's what gives him the opportunity to be at war. We need strong steps, powerful steps, then we can end the war. Trump can do that if he wants to, but he's not on his own because it won't be fair without Ukraine to decide that.

Earlier this month, Americans went to the polls and they re-elected President-elect Trump and he will be sworn into office on January 20th. He has promised during his campaign to end the war in Ukraine on day one. Do you think that's possible? God bless if it's possible.

But I think that still it was a kind of an expression, a figure of expression. He meant that he can quickly stop the war. And we will not push President Trump as if you said that you can end the war in one day. I said that it is very hard to do that with Putin. But the wish itself that he can end the war and end Putin quickly

And I think that he is capable of doing that. But we need to speak about that. We know the strengths of Putin and his weaknesses, where they are. That is obvious for us. So we need a plan, a plan of actions, and we have it.

Have you accepted that

under any sort of ceasefire agreement or peace deal that some Ukrainian territory may remain in Russian hands. We cannot legally acknowledge any occupied territory of Ukraine as Russian.

That is about the territories which used to be occupied by Putin before the full-scale invasion since 2014. Legally, we are not acknowledging that. We are not adopting that. On the other hand, we understand that so far we do not have that much of force so that in the weapons with our hands we could push Putin back to the line of 1991. However,

If we say it should be fairly, the full control over our land, respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity. So that is why we understand that we need to find the opportunity and get to diplomacy. Only diplomatically you can fully end the war. When we look at the diplomatic red lines for the Russians, the other side of this ultimate negotiation that will take place one day,

One of those red lines is Crimea, a portion of Ukraine that was annexed in 2014. President Vladimir Putin has been very clear Crimea will never return to Ukrainian hands. Are you willing to give up Crimea in pursuit of a peace deal to end this war and stop the bloodshed in Europe?

By the way, Crimea is an example of what Putin was. He occupied Crimea before the beginning of the full-scale invasion. And when Crimea was occupied, if you remember, in 2019, we already met with him and talked with him. Crimea lost everything. Tourism, life,

It has become a militarized zone. For Putin, it's a moment not to lose the war, not to give back Crimea. He cannot do that as of today. I...

was already mentioning that we are ready to bring Crimea back diplomatically. We cannot spend dozens of thousands of our people so that they perish for the sake of Crimea and come back. And

Still, it's not the fact that we can bring it back with the arms in our hands. So we understand that Crimea can be brought back diplomatically. And maybe it's not the quick way. Maybe. We are ready for that. However, we are ready to speak.

Only when we are strong. Just to come to the negotiations with Putin, who definitely doesn't want peace. This is the main input data for everybody, and for President Trump, and for us, and for Europe. Just to understand that bloodshed, which you just mentioned, will not be over. Putin doesn't care when people are in blood.

He is still in hot baths during these times. So it's nothing for him. It's zero. For him, human lives are nothing. I want to ask you about President-elect Trump. You met with him during his campaign in late September in New York City. What was that conversation like? Did he make any security guarantees to you and to Ukraine?

No, we didn't get very concrete things. It's understandable why. Because it was election period. With all the challenges, you know it, you saw it in the United States. But we had good conversation.

Yes, we spoke about Ukraine, about support and etc. He understood about security guarantees, my position. My position was very clear. So I don't believe just in any phrases and after Budapest memorandum, I don't believe in some papers and etc. So we believe in respectable security guarantees. For us, it's NATO. He knows my position.

We'll see his reaction. But I think he's...

Through your legislation, he can react on it only after he will be integrated. Yes, after integration, I mean, after he will be in the White House. You're listening to Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yinks' exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from this past Tuesday. Just as a reminder, you can hear more of Trey's thoughts from Thursday's edition of the Fox News Rundown Evening Edition by going to foxnewsrundown.com.

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As part of a ceasefire deal, are you willing to give up Ukrainian territory for those security guarantees? Judicially, we can't give any our territory. I mean, this is the problem of ceasefire, by the way, like it was after 2014 occupation of Russia. If you speak about any ceasefire, we want peace. And of course, it will be the period when ceasefire will come, of course. But when you

ready for ceasefire, you have to know what will be tomorrow, what will be the day after tomorrow. And if you have ceasefire, what security guarantees? What guarantees you have that tomorrow Putin will not come back? The most important thing for our people today, this is the most important, that's what I tried to say to President-elect.

when we had meeting that the most important for our people today whom to trust and what will be after ceasefire what security guarantees will be so we lost a lot of people territories a lot of time children their childhood a lot of things were lost and who

Who can guarantee us that after ceasefire Putin will not come back in one year, in two years, in five years? Who can guarantee? I want to ask you about some comments you made regarding possible negotiations last week. You said the U.S. can't force you to sit at the negotiating table. What if the U.S. government cuts military funding to Ukraine? If they will cut, I think we will lose.

Of course, anyway, we will stay, we will fight. We have our production, but it's not enough to prevail. And I think it's not enough to survive. But that will be if such choice will be American choice. So we will decide what we will have, what we'll do.

I think this is the most dangerous thing to do some steps to free support or not to continue it to increase it or decrease but I think when you do such steps you have to know what you will do after this and what will be after this. The experience of North Korean people who saw soldiers who are on our front they will come

and they will have another kind of dialogue with South Korea. Then also what will be in the Middle East, the third point, what will be in Pacific region, in the Pacific. So that will be the example. If Ukraine will lose, and I hope not, but if all our allies will stop support and will give Putin chance

to prevail what will be in other regions. What will it take for you to sit at the negotiating table with President Putin? Very understandable things. Very understandable things that was in our victory plan is how to strengthen Ukraine. So very understandable systems which our partners have. If they are on our land,

So I think we are calm. Spokine is calm. We are calm. That we have that if Putin will lie, we will use it and we will decrease.

His military of course we are speaking only about military targets even on the territory of Russia We always spoke about military targets not about infrastructure and civilians and etc So it means to be strong. That's why I asked special weapon Invitation to NATO even not nature because of the war it's what give a strong position and understanding of for example President Trump understanding

What will be tomorrow? How we can finish and push Putin? Of course, in such way, in such way, and I think everything is in the decisions of the new president. I think in his arms today, such decisions to make Ukraine strong. And if we are strong, it's not about how to use this weapon. We don't want to use it, but we'll be ready.

Right now, the Council on Foreign Relations says that your forces have recaptured more than 50% of the land that was taken since the ground invasion started on February 24th of 2022. But still, Russia controls about a fifth of your country. There are Russian soldiers occupying about 20% of Ukraine. There's an understanding in the international community that you

won't get all of that territory back. And lawmakers in the House, the Senate, and now the White House, all Republicans. More than 50% of Republican voters, according to recent polls, say that the United States is giving too much aid to Ukraine. What should those Americans understand about this war?

First of all, we are really grateful to the United States of America for the people and for the bipartisan support that you are with us. The fact that we could restore and recover the majority of our territories witnesses that when we are together and we are working cleverly, it is possible. Secondly, the United States helped us together with the European partners not to lose our independence.

Thirdly, what's important, we are really

During three years, getting powerful, strong decisions about support. But let us be truthful. Half of this money was never here, was not gotten by us. Half of this money, even as shells, as weapons, did not come to us. Half of the money came to us as the weapon. And this money

But half of the money is left in the United States of America and was spent for different things. For the support of this or that kind of weapon, these or those technologies, trains and so on. We never got it.

Then the United States of America got experience, really huge experience. Everybody says the US generals, the commanders who are with us, who came to Ukraine, who are in permanent contact with us, they say that we got invaluable experience for the American army. Which of the weapons is working and which weapons are ours?

which we were capable of our academics and scientists were able to create during this war, we shared it with the US. And now we have all of that. For instance, the Iranian weapons, how to fight against Iranian weapons, how to fight against Iranian low-range weapons. All of this experience was shared with the US. And how do you work against Iranian drones by F-16 by the US aircrafts? You also got this experience.

In total, 183 billion dollars has been earmarked for Ukraine since the war began. We know around 87 billion has actually been delivered in the form of military aid to your country. What is it today that you want and need from the American government in terms of support to continue your war efforts? Yes, it's true. About 180

billions of American dollars been voted. We've got in a weapon, yes, in a weapon around a little bit more than 70, but I think 73, 74, something like this. We needed very much just to get what's been voted by Congress, to get artillery,

And we had permission to use long distance weapon just for military targets on the territory of Russia. But again, about long distance, just to understand, it's not enough in one day say, yes, you can. Because we need for this enough number of missiles to use it. Otherwise, it doesn't matter to use, you know, five, ten,

You're talking about ATAKOMs, long-range missiles? Yes, we're speaking about ATAKOMs.

and also Storm Shadow from UK, and also Scalps from France. They all our partners always look on permission from the United States. If the United States doesn't give it, Europe will not give. And reports do indicate President Biden has given you limited permission to use these US-supplied long-range missiles, specifically in the Kursk region, a region where we now understand North Korean troops are staging alongside the Russians to fight your soldiers.

I can share with you not all the details really, but yes, we have this dialogue and this dialogue began to be more warmer, but I'm very honest with you. If we have permission plus missiles, you will hear the result on the battlefield. So for today, we didn't use it.

So you're saying you don't have enough ATAKOMs right now to start using them against Russia? Something like this. I want to ask you about the response, not only in Russian media, but also from Russian lawmakers, saying that by firing these U.S.-supplied missiles into Russia, it could lead to World War III. Could you tell me frankly the fact that the army of North Korea appeared

Isn't it the involvement of the whole world by Russian Federation into the World War III? This is the second country which is officially taking part in this war. Iran gave weapons. Before that, not Korea.

There are some more countries, I don't want to say what they gave them. There were technologies, there were spare parts, microchips and so on. All that was given to Russian Federation, lots of that. You know, in their missiles there are lots of foreign companies and spare parts of those foreign companies.

This is the open involvement of a different country. And North Korea confirms this. And now we hear the first 11,000, and there is a risk that it will be increased up to 100,000. So could you please tell me how should the world respond to that? Will everyone still be silent? Or will you just respond with words, "It's not enough"? And I would really love to hear the opinion of Frank and Lincoln

Biden, who is the president today, and President-elect Trump, who will become the president in January. So, for us, it's so important that North Korea should get the power

the powerful signal and that Russia should get this powerful signal. And this is prime time to influence Putin to end the war. North Korea is already taking part in it. Are you hopeful that President-elect Trump will be able to influence Putin to end the war? He was able to during his last administration.

have a lot of talks that previous administrations simply didn't have. He met with Kim Jong-un in the DMZ between North and South Korea. He was on the phone with President Putin at the time. Are you hopeful that he can find a solution to end this conflict? It will be not simple, but I think if to use all the issues what the United States has,

Yes, he can because he is much more stronger than Putin. He's stronger, United States stronger, economy stronger, money

Big money United States has big very big influence and Europe what is very important? What is very important Europe wants? United States to make very strong steps what they can do because Europe is always looking for the United States their reaction if United States will not be strong to put in Europe will

I think lose the unity in EU and that will be also big problem for us.

Do you have plans to speak with President-elect Trump soon about these issues? Yes, I want. I want. I'm not sure that if he can to make, you know, until he, before integration, I don't know, through the law, American law, but of course our team's on contact and of course I want to meet with him. I think it's important to prepare, to prepare for Putin. We know, he knows him.

and we know him a little bit more because of the war. I understand you spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory. You also spoke with Elon Musk, now one of his advisors in his inner circle.

Yes, I spoke to the president and President Trump said that I agree. Am I agree during our phone call? Am I agree that he wants to give a phone call to Elon Musk? Yes, yes, it was during. Musk posted a clip of you speaking over the past week and he said his sense of humor is amazing and it was about you talking about

regarding the negotiation process saying the US cannot force us to sit and listen at the negotiating table. We are an independent country. Do you have any reaction to his posting this clip online and sort of poking fun at what you had to say? Really, I think that people of the United States, they elected Trump and that is the most important. He is the president.

And I am elected president from the people of Ukraine. So I will speak with President Trump. I want to shift topics here and talk about the Iranian missiles that are being used against your country. We've seen the effects, the deaths of the Ukrainian civilians from Odessa to Lviv, to Kyiv, to Kharkiv.

I want to ask you specifically though about the Israeli strikes that took place earlier this year targeting the Iranian missile production facilities. When you saw those strikes taking place, what were your thoughts?

First of all, I think that it's a great success that Israel has a real, real, very strong connection with the United States, with the European leaders. And they helped, all of them helped Israel, including, of course, the Israeli capabilities, but they helped to defend

Israel and people after a big Iranian attack and that was very good. Then Israel attacked Iranian missile production. Of course, I don't know if they attacked also drone production, but and of course they decreased their capabilities to produce. And of course for us is good that they will not send to they will not attack

Israel, civilians, and it's good for us that they will not send to Russia a lot of missiles, hundreds, thousands really between us. Is there any other coordination happening right now between the Ukrainians and the Israelis? I know there were some conversations about alert systems, possible air defense, anything like that? We want it. We want it from the very beginning of full-scale war, but I think that Israel

made a mistake to my mind because they've been more on political level not on people because we always had very good connection with society yes but on political level those time when the Putin occupied us and full-scale war began I asked Israel leaders to help us and support but they've been afraid of Putin

Yes, it's my opinion and I'm very honest with you about it. And I spoke about it also with European leaders and then with American administration that I asked them to help me with Israel, to give us support, especially with air defense.

And then we had also conversation with another political leaders of Israel. So we always waited very much to have air defense because our people died after Russian missile attacks. We didn't get from Israel such support. Do you think Western leaders were also afraid of Putin as this war developed? Yes.

They've been afraid, some of them always afraid, from the very beginning of this war. And they've been afraid before, because before, since the first occupation of Crimea and part of Donbass, really the answer on these illegal steps of Russia was very silent from the Western leaders. What are they worried about? What they're worried about

Somebody worried because they have good contacts and it brings them money because he had very big energy influence that again coming back those things that the idea to decrease the level of, decrease the prices on energy is good because it's not only about the Russia, it's about independence of energy, about

EU and about the United States, about all the world. So it's very important. So somebody afraid of energy, being afraid of energy, others being afraid of agriculture, of fertilizers, and other people afraid of, because Russia always say, sometimes say that we can use nuclear weapon because we have nuclear weapon and etc. You and I spoke in

in February of last year in Kyiv. And I asked you this question: Are you worried that President Putin could use a nuclear weapon against your forces? So I'll ask you again. I'm not... You know, nobody knows what he can do. He's not adequate person if he began full-scale war during this century against his neighbor. So he's not adequate. It means that he wants to destroy us.

I'm not sure that he can use nuclear weapon if, if, that if, I don't know, because if the leaders like United States, China, if they have, even on the level of intelligence or on the level of leaders like in China and etc., if they have conversation with Putin, I'm sure that they

Said to him not to use nuclear and I'm sure that he he can't if they have such strategic dialogue Yes, there are some think tanks in Washington that are talking about possible out. What do you think? I'm sorry. Yes, you said Very interesting thing but what just like America? Yeah, like American citizen. Okay, Kenny Kenny tell me if he's this crazy man and

from Russia will use nuclear weapon God bless not and I hope not God forbid sorry God forbid no and I hope no so if he will use nuclear weapon what do you think what should United States do

He's certainly unpredictable and this is sort of why I want to dig into this topic. I've been here on the ground reporting in Ukraine from the beginning of the war. We were in Kyiv the night the Russians invaded. We saw the aftermath in Bucha as your civilians were dug up from a mass grave. We were in Izum. We saw the terror dungeons there. The Russians don't seem to have a lot of red lines. And so

I ask you this question from a place of curiosity about your mindset. Is it something that you worry about? I think if he will use nuclear, of course we worry about everything what comes from Russia because it's a long war, we didn't begin it, we want peace. But we see this neighbor and for today nobody can stop him, only our people and only this unity. But I think if he will use or even think to use

United States immediately with EU immediately have to push him out from the Kremlin and stop this and that's all.

Yes, I understand. Everybody is independent, we have to respect, but we don't respect him. And we can't respect any person who can use any threats about nuclear weapons. By the way, that was the mistake of the West just before the beginning of this war. I asked a lot of times publicly,

EU and administration of President Biden. Please, put strong sanctions now before he will think about occupation. Put the sanctions. Put strong steps. They didn't do. That's why I think that this has to be a signal from the United States that

if he will use nuclear weapons, not only from the United States, EU, China and all the world. They have publicly said if Russia will use nuclear weapons, they will push out Putin and he will be in the prison and it will be just. The Center for European Policy Analysis had a piece out last month about

Ukraine's historic nuclear program. Does Ukraine have the ability to produce a nuclear weapon if you were interested in doing so? No. First of all, we didn't produce. First. Second, we didn't think about it. Somebody put it to the media. I think that Russia did it. I don't know. I don't know. But maybe them. What is important? Of course, we had nuclear weapons.

during Soviet period of, yes, and during the beginning of our independence, we had it. Of course, such experience of Ukraine, of course we had it, but we never think how to do it. We never thought how to do it, how to begin to do it, and et cetera. - Yeah, I just got a couple more questions for you here, and we'll let you wrap up. I know it's been a long day.

Back in February when we talked, February of last year, I asked you when the last time you tried to call Russian President Vladimir Putin was. And you said you hadn't tried to call him. And I understand that's your position now. You have no interest in speaking with him over the phone about the situation on the ground. Is that correct? He has no interest. If he watches this, what would you say to him? If I watch? If Russian President Vladimir Putin watches this interview, what would you say to him?

Oh, I don't have any words to him. He has to be in the prison. That's really, that's really the fact. I understand that nobody is happy with, not nobody, a lot of countries are against tribunal and etc. They think that it's very difficult and etc. What to say to Putin? I think he can save his country historically. He can save it if he will stop this war.

Otherwise, in years, some years, the world will never forgive him what he did. Never. It was like with Hitler. Nobody will forgive. Yes, it's a period of time. You remember, like Israeli intelligence. Even after the Second World War II,

how they caught fascists in Latin America countries, somewhere in Europe, etc. So the same will be with his circle of people. So that's why he has to stop now before any, you know, these nuclear threats, any other occupied ideas, etc. He has to stop it.

It's in his interest, it's in his own interest. I want to go back just in these last two questions, one about the American people. I think that many people who live thousands of miles away from Ukraine, they've never been here, maybe they don't even know any Ukrainians. Why should they care about the outcome of this war? Why? Why?

First of all, we share the same values. We also have children, we also have families, we lost a lot of homes, a lot of our ordinary life. And I think that we are fighting not only for our states, not only for Ukraine.

We are fighting for democracy. This is the value which we share with Americans. And I think if we lose, it means the idea of democracy and freedom will lose here. The second is that I said previously, that will be the example. The war will be in your region.

in their region with the countries who are allies to the United States, with the countries who are members of NATO countries, he will not stop. He will go to Baltic and he will go to Poland and he will think what to do with other countries.

the same risks within the Pacific, as I said, and then if he will be, he will attack one or another country of NATO, American soldiers will fight because they are NATO soldiers. That's why it's very important for Americans to know it. My last question is just about the future of Ukraine.

First of all, I think that

Ukraine with the United States with Europe next year can stop this war. We can Trump can pressure Putin and we can have diplomatic way how to finish this war. It means to save our independence, to save our freedom. It's

It's a big step. It's a really big step and really just peace for us. Then in the peace time, of course, we'll renovate our country and a lot of American businesses and European private sector, they will come to Ukraine.

And that's one of the points what we put to our victory plan. What about resources? So we want to make a good contract between Ukraine and America and Europe because you helped us during the war to save these resources.

That's why you're very welcome. Your business, your private sector can come and make money on this, on these resources together with Ukraine, make deals, make companies and etc.

And I think that is very important. So we will be peaceful country. We want it, we need it very much. Our children will come from abroad and they will come from different countries, Poland, United States, Germany. I know that a lot of people want to come back to renovate for restoration. And so this is...

This is what we want, just to live in a free country and that's it. And my final question is, what does victory look like for Ukraine? Peace next year. But just peace, you know. When you have so many losses, it can't be just that the United States will not help you, Europe will not help you, you have to give these territories to Putin, that's it. It's not just peace. It will be a big depression in Ukraine.

It will not be real peace. It will be the, trust me, it will be frozen conflict. Frozen conflict. And Putin, not even us, Putin will prepare. Putin will prepare and come back. So for us, peace, not to give Putin any possibility to come again and kill us. This is peace. Real peace. President Zelensky, thank you for your time. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Thanks for listening. Just as a reminder, you can hear more from Trey Ings discussing his conversation with President Zelensky from Thursday's edition of the Fox News Rundown Evening Edition by going to foxnewsrundown.com.

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