The president of Ukraine gave an interview to The Washington Post. Main theses

The president of Ukraine gave an interview to The Washington Post. Main theses

During the conversation with a journalist, the head of state answered a question about the security situation around Ukraine and in Europe, the consequences of recent cyber attacks, countering hybrid threats, in particular Nord Stream-2, the likelihood of Russia's escalation of armed aggression against Ukraine, and the introduction of sanctions and other measures by international partners in case of such escalation, the Official Internet Representative Office of the President of Ukraine reports.

 

Hybrid war against Ukraine is conducted in different directions, and it is necessary to counteract it no less than military aggression, said Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview.

 

Ukraine today is forced not only to deter Russian aggression on its borders, but also to protect its digital space from cyber attacks.

 

"We have a hybrid war. We are under attack: military attacks, cyber attacks and energy attacks," the head of state stated.

 

When asked by a journalist which war is more worrying - the war waged with weapons or the hybrid war, and whether Russia is behind the recent cyber attacks on Ukrainian government websites, Volodymyr Zelensky  noted: "Our experts told me that there is a very high probability that the cyber attack is coming from Russia. This is not the first and not the last cyber attack. If we compare which war is more dangerous - cyber or conventional war - it's hard for me to say. I believe that missile attacks and air strikes pose a much greater threat. The consequences of war are more severe than those of a cyber attack.

 

The head of state also stressed that Ukraine was not left alone in defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty and received support from partner countries, including the United States of America.

 

The United States, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, could help Ukraine find a format for negotiations with Russia to establish peace in Donbas.

 

"Let's have a dialogue with Russia. I ask the United States to help us find a format. We support dialogue, we are against war," the head of state said.

 

The president also stressed that many Russian citizens regret what is now happening between the two countries.

 

"I have many Russian friends and acquaintances who regret what happened. Our territories will come back to us. In 2014 we were friends, now we are at war with each other. I think Putin has a great chance to agree to a peaceful solution, to sit down at the table and find a compromise," said Volodymyr Zelensky.

 

At the same time, the head of state stressed that all occupied territories should be returned to Ukraine.

 

"They want Ukraine and the world to forget about Crimea. They occupied it and supported the separatists in Donbas. They will be ready to give us Donbas if we forget about Crimea. But no one will forget Crimea," he said.

 

Volodymyr Zelensky also noted in an interview that he believes that the entire international community will lose out because of a possible escalation of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

 

"If we have to defend ourselves against one of the most powerful armies in the world, it will be a war. And it will be a very big war, and everyone will lose. Hundreds of thousands of lives will be lost. Ukraine will suffer, Russia will suffer, European countries, countries neighboring Ukraine will suffer; and those further away will be affected by the migration crisis," said Volodymyr Zelensky.

 

According to him, if Ukraine is left alone in such a situation, it will be a mistake for the whole world.

 

"The world will not be the same again if war happens, and Europe will definitely not be the same as it was," the head of state said.

 

The Ukrainian president also believes that the world should have a unified position on imposing sanctions against Russia for its aggressive actions.

 

Responding to a proposal to explain to U.S. citizens, who are mainly focused on domestic problems, why the situation around Ukraine should be important to them, Volodymyr Zelensky noted that despite where one lives, there are simple and clear rules and principles, in particular that one should not kill, should not commit violence, should not be slavery, etc.

 

"We all live on this earth. It's about values. There are rules that can help us survive in this world. And you can't invade someone else's territory, you can't make an invasion," the President of Ukraine stressed.





During the conversation with a journalist, the head of state answered a question about the security situation around Ukraine and in Europe, the consequences of recent cyber attacks, countering hybrid threats, in particular Nord Stream-2, the likelihood of Russia's escalation of armed aggression against Ukraine, and the introduction of sanctions and other measures by international partners in case of such escalation, the Official Internet Representative Office of the President of Ukraine reports.

 

Hybrid war against Ukraine is conducted in different directions, and it is necessary to counteract it no less than military aggression, said Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview.

 

Ukraine today is forced not only to deter Russian aggression on its borders, but also to protect its digital space from cyber attacks.

 

"We have a hybrid war. We are under attack: military attacks, cyber attacks and energy attacks," the head of state stated.

 

When asked by a journalist which war is more worrying - the war waged with weapons or the hybrid war, and whether Russia is behind the recent cyber attacks on Ukrainian government websites, Volodymyr Zelensky  noted: "Our experts told me that there is a very high probability that the cyber attack is coming from Russia. This is not the first and not the last cyber attack. If we compare which war is more dangerous - cyber or conventional war - it's hard for me to say. I believe that missile attacks and air strikes pose a much greater threat. The consequences of war are more severe than those of a cyber attack.

 

The head of state also stressed that Ukraine was not left alone in defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty and received support from partner countries, including the United States of America.

 

The United States, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, could help Ukraine find a format for negotiations with Russia to establish peace in Donbas.

 

"Let's have a dialogue with Russia. I ask the United States to help us find a format. We support dialogue, we are against war," the head of state said.

 

The president also stressed that many Russian citizens regret what is now happening between the two countries.

 

"I have many Russian friends and acquaintances who regret what happened. Our territories will come back to us. In 2014 we were friends, now we are at war with each other. I think Putin has a great chance to agree to a peaceful solution, to sit down at the table and find a compromise," said Volodymyr Zelensky.

 

At the same time, the head of state stressed that all occupied territories should be returned to Ukraine.

 

"They want Ukraine and the world to forget about Crimea. They occupied it and supported the separatists in Donbas. They will be ready to give us Donbas if we forget about Crimea. But no one will forget Crimea," he said.

 

Volodymyr Zelensky also noted in an interview that he believes that the entire international community will lose out because of a possible escalation of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

 

"If we have to defend ourselves against one of the most powerful armies in the world, it will be a war. And it will be a very big war, and everyone will lose. Hundreds of thousands of lives will be lost. Ukraine will suffer, Russia will suffer, European countries, countries neighboring Ukraine will suffer; and those further away will be affected by the migration crisis," said Volodymyr Zelensky.

 

According to him, if Ukraine is left alone in such a situation, it will be a mistake for the whole world.

 

"The world will not be the same again if war happens, and Europe will definitely not be the same as it was," the head of state said.

 

The Ukrainian president also believes that the world should have a unified position on imposing sanctions against Russia for its aggressive actions.

 

Responding to a proposal to explain to U.S. citizens, who are mainly focused on domestic problems, why the situation around Ukraine should be important to them, Volodymyr Zelensky noted that despite where one lives, there are simple and clear rules and principles, in particular that one should not kill, should not commit violence, should not be slavery, etc.

 

"We all live on this earth. It's about values. There are rules that can help us survive in this world. And you can't invade someone else's territory, you can't make an invasion," the President of Ukraine stressed.