00:00 As the war in Ukraine heads to mark its second anniversary, Ukrainian President Vladimir
00:09 Zelensky has expressed concerns about the Ukrainian war escalating into a third world
00:14 war in near future.
00:16 The conditions?
00:17 If Russian aggression persists without support from Kiev's Western allies, dominantly from
00:23 the United States.
00:24 In an interview with the German state broadcaster, Zelensky warned that any Russian strike on
00:29 a NATO country can mark the beginning of a third world war.
00:32 He urged Germany, with its economic influence, to gather more EU support for Ukraine, especially
00:37 as there is potential for reduced US military aid due to Republican objections and Trump's
00:42 possible return in 2024.
00:45 Zelensky emphasized the significance of not receiving passive or insufficient support
00:49 from the United States.
00:51 In response to questions about Germany's role if aid after the US diminishes, Zelensky noted
00:56 that Germany can consolidate the EU due to its economic relationships, asserting that
01:01 many countries' economies depend on Germany's decisions.
01:04 He also expressed disappointment in Germany's previous refusal to supply Ukraine with powerful
01:08 Taurus cruise missiles and suggested that Germany hadn't played the role it should have
01:13 during the initial occupation of Ukraine.
01:15 Referring to the weaknesses of West's response to Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, that
01:20 was a precursor of Moscow's total invasion in 2022, he said that it's just not about
01:25 Germany's sole response.
01:27 "It's not about just Olaf Scholz," he said.
01:30 "It concerns European leaders and the United States as a whole."
01:33 In the United States, Zelensky has said that Ukraine has support from all across the political
01:38 divide.
01:39 Zelensky says that there are individual Republicans who do not support Ukraine, but the vast majority
01:43 of Democrats and Republicans do support Ukraine, he added.
01:47 While the US President Joe Biden has also called for continuous support to Ukraine,
01:51 a package of aid is facing obstruction in Congress, primarily due to the Republican
01:56 objection under the influence of Donald Trump.
01:59 Zelensky has clarified that this doesn't mean the Republicans as a whole are against the
02:03 support of Kiev, emphasizing that Ukraine has received backing from both Democrats and Republicans,
02:09 but for now it seeks on Germany for more financial aid or else, he says, that Russia may trigger
02:15 a World War III.
02:16 And that's a look at the big picture.
02:17 For more information on Ukraine, visit our website at www.foreign-affairs.com.
02:17 And as always, thanks for watching.
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