Zelenskyy: Ukraine Most Needs Better Missiles and Continued Sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with US broadcaster CNN on Thursday, 22 October, that in its war with Russia Ukraine now needs two main things from its allies: better missiles and the continuation of sanctions against Russia. The interview was reported by the outlet European Pravda.

Sanctions and attitude toward Putin

Zelenskyy addressed recent tensions with the United States, stressing that they were not about personalities. In his view, lifting sanctions would make Russian President Vladimir Putin stronger. The Ukrainian leader said the matter is not personal between him and US President Donald Trump, but that he is firmly against any lifting of sanctions.

Zelenskyy is convinced that Putin is playing with other people's lives and certainly does not want to end the war. For that reason, he argued, partners should not give the Russian leader a chance to grow stronger and defeat Ukraine.

Shortage of missiles

The president noted that European allies have supplied Ukraine with some air defence missiles, but that this is not enough for the country to defend itself. He set out two key requests: not to lift sanctions from Putin, and to provide Ukraine with better missiles.

Earlier remarks

Earlier, Zelenskyy had said Trump could help end Russia's war against Ukraine by changing his rhetoric toward Putin. He also commented on the Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, stressing that despite peace talks Russia is showing no change in its position on ending the war.