President Zelenskyy: Ukrainian Army the Most Powerful in Europe Today

The Ukrainian army today is one of the most powerful in the world and the most powerful in Europe. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Suspilne on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian Radio.

‘The Ukrainian army today is one of the most powerful in the world, definitely the most powerful in Europe,’ Zelenskyy said.

Among the reasons for the strengthening of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he named the saturation of the army with various types of weapons from partners, active development of Ukrainian drones, a missile programme and the experience of a major modern war.

‘We have been saturated with various types of weapons from our partners since the beginning of the war. At the same time, over these three years, the technological changes that have taken place in Ukraine at various levels: public and private, have led to our becoming technologically the strongest in Europe, because we have modern practices based on a modern long war,’ the President said.

Zelenskyy added that the war with Russia will be completed with the team that will now lead the White House.

‘No one wants peace like we do. The change in US policy suggests that, in my opinion, the war will be over. I don't know how. Our task is to defend a strong position. The end of this war is very important for us - a just peace and so that there is no feeling that we have lost the best for the sake of injustice that was imposed on you. And so you cannot bow your head because someone is big, and you are smaller. We are a great nation, and we have to prove it,’ the Ukrainian president said.

Putin benefits from negotiating only on certain capitulation terms on the part of Ukraine, but no one will allow this.

‘It is profitable for him to sit down (at the negotiating table - ed.), but it is not profitable for him to negotiate. It is beneficial for him to negotiate on some kind of surrender terms on our part, but no one will allow him to do this,’ Zelenskyy said.

He noted that Putin does not want peace at all, but this does not mean that he does not want to sit down with the leaders of other countries at the negotiating table.

‘Why? Because for him, this is the destruction of political isolation, which has been built since the beginning of the war. And it is beneficial for him. To sit down to talk and not to negotiate,’ the Head of State said.

He emphasised that peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation were possible only if Ukraine was strong and not alone with Russia, and the support of international partners, particularly the United States, was important.

‘Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are possible only if Ukraine is not alone with Russia, if Ukraine is strong. What kind of negotiations can be held with a murderer? If we are talking to Putin and we are not strong in the conditions we are in now, this is a losing status for Ukraine at the door. This is not about a just peace. Of course, in a weak situation, there is nothing to do in these negotiations,’ Zelenskyy said.