"Last year was difficult, but Ukrainian forces did a good job": Zelensky gives an interview to Fox News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview to the American conservative television channel Fox News on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale war.
The full version will be released overnight from Thursday to Friday Kyiv time, Rubryka reports, citing Fox News.
Fox News' chief political anchor Bret Baier discussed with Zelensky the anniversary of the war, congressional debates regarding assistance to Ukraine, and recent events on the front lines. Baier has conducted several interviews with Zelensky, with the latest one taking place in December.
They also discussed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the key battle site of Avdiivka in the country's east last week, which may create conditions for a Russian advance as the war approaches its second anniversary.
The conversation between Baier and Zelensky took place less than two and a half kilometers from Russian positions.
"During these two years, they occupied the Kharkiv region [and] now we are in this region," Zelensky said in the interview, the preview of which was published by the television channel.
Photo: foxnews
The Ukrainian president added, "We unblocked the Black Sea, now we have their grain routes, etc., and destroyed a lot of their ships [in the] Russian fleet. That we did in two years. Yeah, last year was mostly complicated for us, but… what's been done, I think it was a good job."
Zelensky, speaking amid artillery fire, praised the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their successes in contrast to Russia's sole achievement — the capture of Avdiivka, which became Moscow's biggest victory in nine months, according to Fox News.
The president also expressed his disappointment with "bureaucracy" as an obstacle to obtaining vital support for Ukraine and the lack of technology and weapons. During the conversation with Baier, he stressed that "time is money."
Zelensky also highlighted the need for supplies from allies such as the United States, understanding that support for Ukraine's fight in Congress is weakening, Fox News reports.
"We have to survive," Zelensky said. "We have to find some parallel steps or rules, but… you understand that this help is crucial. Without it… we will have more and more such heroic guys who will be in the hospitals because if you don't have a real defending shield and some powerful artillery… of course, you will lose people."
The journalist attended a military briefing and medal ceremony for soldiers with Zelensky and visited hospitalized soldiers injured in battle.
The interview will air on Bret Baier's program "Special Report" on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Friday at 1:00 a.m. in Kyiv). This marks the first interview with the Ukrainian President on the front lines since the full-scale war began.
Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview to the Tg1 channel, discussing the situation on the front lines, occupied territories, and support from the United States in the event of a change in power in the US.
The channel quoted him as referring to the "stalemate on the front lines." A spokesperson for the president later noted that this was not discussed in the interview.
