President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy v interview told the American TV channel NBC News in detail about the key aspects of Ukraine’s current military and diplomatic efforts. He explained why and how the operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation was being prepared, announced the future victory plan that will be presented to US President Joe Biden, and also shared his thoughts on the possibility of participation of Russian representatives in the future peace summit. In addition, Zelensky emphasized the inevitability of bringing Vladimir Putin to justice for war crimes under international law.
Highlights of Zelenskyi’s interview
Strike on Poltava
The president commented on the missile attack on Poltava carried out by Russian troops on September 3, the same day the interview took place. Zelensky emphasized that the strike was carefully planned, and preliminary information indicates that the missile was in the air for about three minutes.
“People didn’t have time to hide in bomb shelters”, he noted.
At the same time, many civilians were injured or killed trying to reach safe places. The president noted that, despite the quick reaction, it was not enough for rescue.
Mobilization in Ukraine
Answering questions about mobilization, Zelensky assured that the process is taking place in accordance with the calculations and plans developed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
“Everything is going according to the strategy, and today the mobilization is taking place without disruptions”, the president emphasized.
Operation in the Kursk region
Regarding the operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, Zelensky said that the administration of the US president was not warned about its start. He explained that this was not a matter of mistrust, but rather a desire to avoid the leakage of information that can happen through various communication channels even in the most closed structures.
The President mentioned that during the preparation of the operation in the south of Ukraine more than a year ago, information was leaked, which caused certain difficulties. This time, the circle of informants was as narrow as possible, which made it possible to ensure surprise and success of the operation. Ukraine currently holds the part of the Kursk region that it planned to seize, creating a buffer zone on the territory of Russia.
“We show them that the game is over: if they brought us war, we are ready to respond in kind“, — said Zelensky.
He also added that more than 600 Russian soldiers were captured during the operation, which strengthened Ukraine’s position in the exchange fund.
Ukraine’s victory plan
The operation in the Kursk region, according to the president, is an integral part of the overall victory plan, the details of which he is going to discuss with US President Joe Biden. Zelensky emphasized that the plan is aimed at forcing Russia to stop aggression and accept international rules, including the UN Charter. At the same time, he emphasized that his plan includes the strengthening of Ukraine as an independent state.
Second Peace Summit
President Zelensky confirmed that a detailed plan to end the war will be prepared before the second Peace Summit. He also noted that the participation of Russian representatives at this summit is an important condition for achieving a diplomatic solution to the conflict. According to Zelenskyi, many countries called for the presence of Russia at the summit. Ukraine, in turn, is not against this and is ready to discuss possible options for ending the war.
Punishment of Putin
Separately, the President of Ukraine mentioned the recent visit of Vladimir Putin to Mongolia, which ratified the Rome Statute, but did not execute the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Zelensky harshly criticized the Mongolian government for its decision, noting that it puts the interests of the President of the Russian Federation above international law. Despite this, the Ukrainian president stressed that even if some countries ignore international norms, this will not stop justice, and Putin will still bear responsibility for his actions.
