- 8 hours ago
Trump using his missiles on Iran leaves Ukraine short, Zelensky warnsIn an exclusive interview with The Independent, Volodymyr Zelensky said his country may be left more vulnerable but that the lesson of Iran is that he needs weapons to force Putin to genuine peaceThe Independent, Sam KileyVideo Journalist: Camille Chorley
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00:00The focus will shift to the Middle East.
00:03They're in danger because they're the president's children.
00:06Just 100. Give us 100.
00:07The Russians have tried to kill you. How many times they sent assassins?
00:11You could have a glass of wine and relax and look back at the crazy times when the Russians were
00:17trying to kill you.
00:17Yeah.
00:24President Volodymyr Zelensky, thank you so much for joining us on World of Trouble.
00:29I'll go straight in and ask in the immediate news sense, what is your reaction to what is unfolding in
00:40the Middle East?
00:41And is there any concern you have that it takes attention away from the defense of Ukraine?
00:49Thank you very much for your question.
00:51Of course, it's understandable that the attention will move.
00:55And we see now the reaction of the world.
00:59It's very understandable the attitude of people.
01:01They all follow what's going on.
01:04You see that mostly journalists are there.
01:06And this is always like it was in Middle East.
01:10You know, that last time, and so, and this time, so the focus will shift to the Middle East, to
01:20Iranian war now, and to United States, and also to Israel.
01:27This is very understandable, also to the countries which represent the Middle East, who are now, which are now under
01:36attacks, massive attacks of drones and missiles from Iranian sides.
01:41So this is understandable.
01:42The challenges are also understandable.
01:45Well, I'm not, I'm just underlining, I'm not accepting this will be, yes, our estimation, of course, that air defense
01:53can decrease.
01:55I mean, the part of air defense, especially missiles, Pact-2, Pact-3 for patriots, on which we count.
02:04Yeah, and of course, that it can be less delivers because of this war, because all the countries who can
02:13deliver, including United States, or first of all, including the United States, because the production, the massive production of air
02:22defense missiles, and they are mostly in the United States.
02:27So they produce the air, and of course, they will control this number, and they will, I think, try to
02:33hold the package of such missiles.
02:37It's understandable, so we, but we didn't hear from partners some messages about it.
02:44I hope that it will not work this way.
02:48I hope so.
02:49But in any way, my team knows about it, and they already have got the message from me that they
02:56have to prepare, in any case, to prepare for such challenges.
03:02So this is one.
03:03The second point, the price on oil, how Russia can use it or not, it will depend how our partners
03:13will work with the biggest importers.
03:17So we're the biggest countries who can import Russian energy, oil, gas, etc.
03:24So, and that's why we have to work on it, and we have to work on, again, continue to work
03:31on sanctions on the shadow fleet.
03:33I mean, to stop tankers with Russian oil.
03:37So only this can help.
03:38Are you satisfied that the Europeans especially are doing enough to stop the movement of these shadow fleets?
03:45I mean, an awful lot of them travel through, if not European waters, very close to European countries.
03:51How I can be satisfied or not satisfied if I don't have influence on European law, legislation?
03:59So the question is to all the countries, EU and Europe wider.
04:06It's all about internal legislation.
04:09It's all about the changes, changes in the internal law to have rights to confiscate Russian oil after they are
04:21stopping the tankers.
04:22Not to allow them in three, five days after the decision of court, quick decision mostly, by the way, and
04:29to allow them to go.
04:31And so they mostly, they don't lose anything, only a little bit because they stopped for some days.
04:36So that's why we need confiscation.
04:39And we don't need this oil.
04:42We don't want to have any, you know, any money to make any money on Russian oil.
04:46No, we don't want.
04:47But we don't want them to make money because they will, it's big influence on this war.
04:52They will use it on the battlefield against us.
04:55Do you think there is going to be any effect in terms of Russia's access to missiles, to drones, with
05:05the attacks being conducted against Tehran?
05:08Or was that a link that was already no longer important?
05:12In any way, it will have some influence.
05:15I'm not sure that in this closest period of time, because they had enough packages from Iranians,
05:22and they already, more than two years, are massively producing all these shields and missiles,
05:29and they have licenses, but maybe, I don't know, but maybe some additional things like missiles will not go to
05:39Russia.
05:40I hope no, because Iranians need this.
05:45And I'm not sure, but maybe Russians also will move some air defense for Iranian government,
05:51or any regime, or for these guys.
05:54I don't know how to call them.
05:55So, maybe they will move air defense.
05:59We will see.
06:00Now, talking more focused now about Ukraine.
06:05I was in Kharkiv when the war, the full-scale invasion happened in 2022,
06:10and I spent more than two years there since.
06:13And what has struck me in that process, Mr. President,
06:16is the conversation among your allies has moved from a panic to help Ukraine defend itself,
06:27and then how to help Ukraine lose, not badly, but not how to help Ukraine win.
06:38But when I've been on the front lines and talking to your generals,
06:42yes, your men and women are exhausted, but they're still talking about winning.
06:47Why is there that difference?
06:51Why the difference between allies or their attitude?
06:56Their attitude, really.
06:57I mean, there is an attitude that Ukraine cannot really win this against the mighty Russian bear.
07:05But I've seen with my own eyes that, in my estimation, it is possible,
07:11not least because you've survived and recaptured territory.
07:16Yeah.
07:17So, between us, estimation is very different, really,
07:22from the United States to Europe.
07:24Even in Europe, it's very different.
07:25And it depends how people are deeply in the context of what's going on on the battlefield,
07:32how people really trust and how people believe in Ukraine.
07:38You remember from three days or four days of our occupation,
07:42yes, imitations of this from, you know,
07:48from this to the possibility to win and to get back all our territories.
07:56I mean, these different leaders changed their mind during one week.
08:02So, and really, it was true.
08:06Nobody believed in, and it's really difficult to believe.
08:10Because you are small, this country is 40 times more,
08:13and Putin is like, you know, it's like, you know,
08:17the same like strong allies, Iranian regime and Putin regime.
08:22And now we see where is the strongest between their relations.
08:27When somebody began to be weaker, Putin is a little bit far away.
08:34He wants to join only to the victory.
08:36This is what we see.
08:38And the same about other some of representatives.
08:42They didn't believe that we can survive.
08:44Then a lot of them, it was popular to believe,
08:50to believe that we will catch all our territories back.
08:54But it was very difficult, because it's not enough just to believe in.
08:58Yes, it's not enough.
09:00We have to work on it.
09:02Yes, just not, even not to get back,
09:05to hold the line, to hold the front line.
09:09And I spoke it from the first year of the war,
09:12just to hold our position.
09:14We need a lot to work all together.
09:18It was difficult.
09:18Well, not everybody understood.
09:20Now, by the way, mostly people understood.
09:23And then it began at the end of last year,
09:28not last year,
09:29at the very beginning of President Trump's term,
09:34and at the last months of the presidential term of Biden,
09:42people began to think that Ukraine maybe will not win.
09:47And Russia's narrative began to win,
09:51especially in narrative,
09:52that they are winning,
09:54and that they will win us in any case,
09:57and they will occupy us in any case,
09:59and they will destroy us in any case.
10:02Only one reason how to stop it,
10:04stop this war.
10:05Stop and...
10:06Exactly.
10:06Yeah, and this is where we've been during one year.
10:10And I always said that that really took control,
10:13the defending line.
10:15It's really not enough people and weapon.
10:19And first of all, weapon.
10:21Because if we have enough weapon,
10:23we don't need so many human losses.
10:26Really.
10:27Really, it works this way.
10:29So, now the country is 40 times bigger.
10:33It didn't become smaller 10 times.
10:36No, it's the same country.
10:38But they can't occupy us.
10:39So, it's about technology.
10:41We increased the number of drones,
10:43other technologies.
10:45We began to be a little bit stronger.
10:47For example, now we are stronger than last year.
10:51But last year, we've been weaker than the year before.
10:55So, it's like...
10:57Sign waves.
10:57Yeah, sign waves.
10:59So, this is about it.
11:00So, that's why now we don't see initiative in the hands of Russia.
11:08They have only the number of people.
11:10They have only one initiative that at home they can control everything,
11:15information field.
11:16But we don't need such initiative.
11:19But they wanted very much to control information field,
11:23to influence on the people when they signed the contracts,
11:26that everything will be good.
11:28And they move them.
11:30They move them.
11:32Just...
11:32I mean, it's understandable that they will be killed.
11:35So, it's understandable.
11:37That's why I thought it's 35,000 death people each month from Russian side.
11:42It's huge amount.
11:44That's why for them it's a new type, new moment of the war.
11:50They began it this winter.
11:51They began to make this, you know, chaos.
11:55And they had result.
11:58Be honest.
11:59They destroyed half of our generation of energy and even more.
12:04And it was very difficult for our people to survive.
12:08They really counted that our people will divide.
12:12I mean, society will be divided.
12:14Especially divided between soldiers and civilians that we have to stop.
12:19And we have to run away from Donbass.
12:22Let them give our land.
12:24But let them stop.
12:26They moved narrative to the United States.
12:30And they also moved this to Europe.
12:33But now, where we are now?
12:36That...
12:36I'm telling such details because all these details is an answer on the question why the attitude is changing.
12:46What we can...
12:46Because it's all about narratives and about emotions.
12:50You know, if something is great on the battlefield, people...
12:54Yes, people believe in a victory.
12:56But the war and our surviving...
12:59This is real surviving because the war is on our land, not on Russian land.
13:04You know, it's about surviving.
13:06It's about their aggression.
13:07So, the war is to try not to give initiative to the enemy.
13:14So, many losses from them.
13:16It's their decision.
13:18It's not our decision.
13:20But we understand that many losses from them.
13:22It will be helpful for us to control the situation.
13:26And now, we are very close to this moment.
13:31So, we understood that with partners, we can't close all the sky.
13:36It's understandable.
13:37Not enough air defense.
13:38And we don't get it.
13:40So, we need to create new technologies like drones interceptors and etc.
13:46Something new.
13:48So, if we will not stop, we will go further.
13:51And that's why, to answer on your last point in your question, maybe the most important that you said, can
13:58we get back?
14:00So, it will not be like, you know, that it's our wish with military guys, with our army, go and
14:08to deoccupy it.
14:09Because just to deoccupy it this way, it means so many human losses.
14:17And that's why it's very difficult, because it's land war.
14:21So, we need to find solution at the negotiation table or parallel ways.
14:29Negotiation table and range, long range answers.
14:35They have to fill the war and painful of the war.
14:39And challenges with energy, what we had, they have to fill it and with oil and etc.
14:44So, it's, you know, multilaterally to answer on this question, just that we have to go and to deoccupy it.
14:53It's difficult for today.
14:55We don't have resources, I mean weapon, and we don't have so many people, you know.
15:02And it's very painful to lose people for this.
15:05That's why we are trying to stop Putin and to negotiate.
15:11Are you confident you might get more help with long range missiles that can maintain that pressure to force Putin
15:19into a realistic negotiating position?
15:23You don't need to argue.
15:24I will say for you, it is unrealistic to give up the fortress belt.
15:29That is a crazy option.
15:31You've ruled that out.
15:33But to talk seriously, you need to be able to put more military pressure on Russia, no?
15:38I think if we speak about this, the line of fortifications, you mean on the east, Donbass, yes?
15:46Yeah.
15:46I understood correctly.
15:48So, I said, you are right, we can't just withdraw, because this is, I mean, it's a big mistake, and
15:55we don't know the result of this mistake.
15:58It's not the mistake that we will withdraw.
16:02It's the beginning of the mistake.
16:04We don't know what will be.
16:06Yeah, it's really.
16:07I don't know where they will go.
16:09They will go to Dnipro, Kharkiv, to the capital.
16:12I don't know the direction how they will go.
16:16Yes?
16:17That's why this mistake, this is opportunity.
16:22It's even more foolish mistake than just to open some direction for offensive.
16:31Because we don't know where they can go.
16:34It means that they can go some several directions.
16:38So, it's very dangerous.
16:40That I tried to explain to our American partners.
16:43You want me to make decision, but I don't know the result of this decision, really.
16:49And I said that the problem that you think that you know, nobody knows.
16:56Nobody knows.
16:57Yeah.
16:58Yes.
16:59That's why it's, I'm not sure that it's a smart decision.
17:03That's why we are trying to manage it without such, you know, such ultimatums from Russian side.
17:11Because it comes from their side.
17:14Will you get the help that you need, though, from particularly the Europeans?
17:17Are these long-range weapons coming?
17:19For example, we get from UK strong shadows.
17:23Yeah, and very helpful.
17:26This is very good weapon.
17:28And the scouts from France.
17:32And we had some ATACAMs, you know, ATACAMs from the United States.
17:38Yeah.
17:39First of all, that's it.
17:42We didn't have something and other from other countries, and we know what they have.
17:48Yeah.
17:49We didn't have anything which goes more than 200 or 250 kilometers.
17:54Never.
17:56So, all this long-range, which is 500 kilometers, 1,000 kilometers plus, and et cetera, it was produced in
18:05Ukraine.
18:07And it's not enough.
18:10It's not enough.
18:12For example, Russia uses drones.
18:14We don't have Iranian drones, by the way.
18:16Yes, we have our drones.
18:17Yeah, we have our drones.
18:18But Russia also has their own drones.
18:23But also, they have the biggest package of Iranian drones.
18:28So, the biggest package.
18:32And this is a problem that with the long-range, we don't have such big support as Russia has.
18:39And again, we are not, we've been not comparable before the war.
18:45We've been not comparable with drones and with other weapons with Russia.
18:49So, of course, it's understandable.
18:51Why?
18:51Of course.
18:52But for today, when, for example, UK helps us, there are some other countries who can help us with long
18:59-range.
19:01But so far, they're not helping.
19:03They don't give us.
19:05Yeah.
19:05They don't give us.
19:06You know that now the operation of the United States, I don't know, 2,000 missiles, intelligence, I mean, share
19:14different information.
19:15So, I don't know, exactly.
19:17I don't know.
19:17But I saw this first two days, something like this.
19:21It was about 2,000 missiles mostly.
19:24Tomahawks and other, I mean, you know, how many Tomahawks I asked the United States for you, just you to
19:36know.
19:36That 200 or 100, just 100, give us 100.
20:10So, I'm not, I understand.
20:12So, we're afraid of your aggressive manner, of nuclear weapon program, and etc.
20:20Let's speak.
20:21I think it was this way.
20:23And Americans began to speak with Iranians.
20:25They spoke, they had negotiations, then they said, look, if you're not ready to stop, one, two, three.
20:32It all was about aggressive steps, but one, two, three, if you are not ready, we will answer.
20:39In my case, what I proposed to all the partners, tell Putin, one, two, three, the same steps.
20:49And then, don't even help us, just give us the weapon, what you use, again, again, other aggressors.
20:58That was our proposition.
20:59Yeah, we didn't get it.
21:01And that's why Putin plays these games, because he doesn't feel it.
21:06He doesn't feel, what will be for him?
21:08What will be?
21:11He doesn't feel the consequences or pressure.
21:13Yes, of course.
21:14He doesn't feel the problem.
21:15Now, talking of Putin and Russia itself, people have got used to you as the president of Ukraine, the leader
21:24of Ukraine, the war leader of Ukraine.
21:26But in your previous life, you were a famous actor and very famous in Russia, in Moscow, the winner of
21:33competitions, a very successful comedy.
21:35So, this is a country you understand very well.
21:41Can you sort of explain to me how it is possible for Putin to continue this war?
21:48What is it about Russia, a country you know very well, where you are as well known as Putin in
21:55Russia, how they have managed to get the energy for this war?
22:01Well, first of all, about Putin, what I think really, he wants to be himself.
22:13And he doesn't want to find next president.
22:19And he doesn't want to share his power with somebody, because he doesn't trust.
22:26Even his close people, he doesn't trust anybody.
22:28So, he lives in this.
22:31And he needs to make steps, because living in such format, the economy will not increase.
22:39You have only energy economy, or basing only on energy resources, land resources, etc.
22:44It can't go well all the time, because you have a big country.
22:49No economical reforms, etc.
22:51So, it will bring you to challenges, because people are poor.
22:57Be honest, it's understandable.
22:59So, people are rich in two, three cities, or in five cities, including, I mean, the cities where they have
23:06oil, gas, etc.
23:08They control these lands, etc.
23:10So, not too much.
23:12But, mostly, it's about poor people.
23:15They don't need more, because they can't understand what that means, really.
23:20Because they control this informational field, as I said.
23:24They control it so many years.
23:27I mean, Putin and his team.
23:30They control it.
23:31Yeah.
23:32So, they want to hold this position.
23:35Some rich cities, a lot of real estate and money abroad.
23:40Now, we see what the world has been frozen, but we didn't find everything.
23:45These 300 billion dollars have been frozen, but it's just assets, Russian assets.
23:49It's not about real estate, it's not about yachts, businesses, factories, metallurgy, oil, energy, a lot of things.
23:57I mean, these diamond fabrics, and a lot of things on the continents.
24:02In Europe, United States, in Latin America, everywhere.
24:05So, it's the way of their life.
24:10They will not give anybody this way of life to be changed.
24:16That's why they need to control the situation.
24:21How to control the situation when the economy is not increasing?
24:25When it's, I mean, you can have crisis, and et cetera.
24:29How to hold power?
24:31To find an enemy.
24:33It's understandable.
24:34That's why I always said, look, you think that after our war will end, the war will end?
24:40I'm not sure.
24:41Because it's not about Europe.
24:43It's all about Russia.
24:45It's all about himself.
24:48This person.
24:49Listen, that's why I answered to my journalist, asked me, why you say that Putin is a war?
24:55Because it's about him.
24:57It's about him.
24:59When he will stop, the war will stop.
25:01Or somebody will stop him, the war will stop.
25:04I don't know, maybe somebody will, maybe they will come again in some years.
25:09I don't know exactly.
25:11But for them to control the power to have an enemy.
25:14Today, enemy is West, they said.
25:18All the West.
25:20Because they can't say that the enemy is just Ukraine, because it will be that they are weak.
25:26They're really, they are weak.
25:28For them, an enemy is Ukraine.
25:31Forty times smaller country.
25:33And five times smaller population.
25:37So, for them, it's, you know, that's why they don't recognize our independence, and et cetera.
25:43They can't.
25:44Increase, you know, our influence in Europe or somewhere, even in his society.
25:51And that's why he said, my enemy is NATO, he said.
25:55Enemy is West.
25:56And that's why.
25:57What does it mean West?
25:59And this is dangerous.
26:02Democracy.
26:03And that's why this is dangerous.
26:05That when the war will end in Ukraine.
26:08I don't know when and I don't know where.
26:11We will hold what we can.
26:13But he will begin something.
26:15If he will feel that his society began, you know, losing this, how to say, respect to him.
26:25Or something like this.
26:27They don't want to trust him.
26:29He will find a new enemy.
26:32This is why I said that the war is Putin.
26:36It's himself.
26:39And I understand these people.
26:41I mean, I don't respect their choice.
26:44But you said about that.
26:45We know this.
26:46Of course, we know that.
26:47We had businesses.
26:48We knew.
26:50You, I, I, I was in so many cities there, you know, really, not less than he was, I'm sure.
26:58Because I was in so many cities there and I saw, yes, these big countries, very rich and very poor
27:05people and et cetera.
27:07But this is their choice.
27:08The difference between Ukrainians and Russians.
27:11He made the choice for people.
27:15And in Ukraine, people make a choice for you.
27:19You can hold, you can be, you can hold power.
27:21Some, I mean, this, some years which is written in your law.
27:25So, yes, and that's it.
27:27People decided.
27:28You don't decide.
27:30You can't decide.
27:31This is the big difference.
27:34Four years ago, Russian special forces were trying to kill you, literally four years ago this week.
27:44Can you describe to me what that was like for you and your family and why you decided not to
27:53leave,
27:53or at least not to send your family abroad?
27:56That was a very historic decision.
28:00I thought that I have to be with our people because I have to.
28:07It's my responsibility.
28:09It's just, just responsibility.
28:12And I think that a lot of people think the same way.
28:17So, I'm not sure if I would be there.
28:21Not president, just I have, I don't know, the zoo store.
28:27You know, I have a zoo store or I have a company where people work.
28:32I'm not sure that I also could go out because it's all about responsibility.
28:38You're responsible for the people or for something, something in life.
28:44Yes, and somebody, I mean, it's about it.
28:48It's a first, it's a responsibility.
28:51The second point, when you're president, I understand because we, maybe I didn't read a lot of books, but I
29:02read.
29:02Yes, yes, some number of books to be educated and to understand that without the president, in such a moment,
29:12there is no country.
29:15Because everything can be broken.
29:18I mean, of course, everything is based on just people.
29:20And people can save your country.
29:23But people need a magnet at this moment.
29:26They need to understand that they are not alone.
29:30And it begins from the leader.
29:33If the leader shows that he's here, he stands, and people trust him, people will stay with you.
29:39And people will hold the positions.
29:42And we'll try.
29:44Not even win, but we'll try not to lose your country.
29:47Yes, in our case, we won our independence and sovereignty.
29:52I'm sure.
29:54And that's why it's responsibility.
29:58It's my understanding what I have to do.
30:02And constitution, really, according to the constitution, I have to defend my country and to defend my nation.
30:11So this is what we think.
30:14But we understand it not the first moment, I think so.
30:18We understand it only after.
30:20Because you have to move and make decisions.
30:26You don't have time for big discussions.
30:30You know?
30:31You don't have days and weeks to decide, okay, will I go?
30:37Or what way will I come on plane, train, or et cetera, by foot, et cetera.
30:44So you don't have for this, you know, any time.
30:47So it goes.
30:48Everything goes very quickly because too many decisions.
30:52And one of these decisions, one of these decisions, it was important, of course, me to stay with my people.
30:59But this is one of the decisions.
31:02We made a lot of decisions, which I can't really remain all the decisions we made.
31:09And not all of them, I'm sure, was right or correct.
31:12Because it was, you know, like not to have chaos, which was partially during the war you have.
31:22I mean, somewhere in the cities, on the occupying territory, which occupied it, or in the process, and you have
31:29to de-occupy it, or somewhere to save people, and to make some steps back, and then go there.
31:35So it's emotions and steps.
31:38I think the most important, who can hold emotions and just make decisions without emotions.
31:48Even it will be very difficult if you even need, after some days, to drink some wine, and, you know,
31:57and to understand that, whew, how would it, I can't understand, but it was.
32:05Yeah, but it's normal.
32:07But yeah, but the most important to, I think, to control and to make steps.
32:11And if the balance of your steps, right and wrong, if the balance is more right steps, you will have
32:21the result.
32:22This is my estimation.
32:25I think that I made, and we made, yes, more right decisions than incorrect.
32:34How is that affecting your family life, this non-stop world of decisions now after four years?
32:40Your children are growing up like so many Ukrainian children in a state of war and in a state of
32:47personal danger.
32:49They're in danger because they're the president's children.
32:51The children I visited in Nicopole are in danger because they're sitting opposite the Russians just on the other side
32:58of the river.
32:58I think this feeling is very correct, what you said.
33:04Children in Ukraine, the children of the president or children in just, you know, working in the Dnipro region where
33:17some FPV or some artillery can come.
33:21I mean, they're in a really dangerous position.
33:27Our children at school, they study, and they have to run very quickly to shelters.
33:37They have to do it.
33:38It doesn't matter where they study, in the capital or closer to the front line, because the missile is not
33:45choosing where to go.
33:47Oh, yeah, it's really only bring destroying places, schools, and death.
33:54So that's why all our children are in a dangerous position.
33:59It's true.
34:01Yes.
34:02How they can live?
34:04Like all the people.
34:06With the questions, with the problems, with the nervous moment.
34:13Yes.
34:15Do you get to spend much time with your children?
34:18No.
34:20No, not too much.
34:22First of all, not too much because I have no time.
34:25Second, it's not, I mean, it's also dangerous.
34:28Right.
34:29And also for them.
34:31First of all, for them, really.
34:34So I don't like, you know, I don't, sometimes, you know, all the factories, just you to know, all the
34:40factories want me to, want me to be in their factory.
34:44They want to show how they are proud that they, and me to be very proud where these guys, and
34:50they began from the war, beginning of this war, they began to make something by their heads.
34:55Now it's robotized everything, and they had new technology, drones, and et cetera.
35:00But I'm not often go to any factories, which are also even underground, because I know how it's dangerous for
35:09them.
35:10Yeah.
35:10Yeah.
35:11This is, it's my choice.
35:13The same for your children.
35:14Yeah.
35:15Yeah.
35:15This is the same with my family.
35:18Yeah.
35:18So they are, that's why I try, I try not to go too much to some places, yes, because of
35:26this.
35:27That brings me to sort of ask a question about your long-term future.
35:32This is a, an exhausting job.
35:36You could, especially get rid of some of the Russian manipulations, saying you're illegitimate, and you haven't been elected, and
35:47all this stuff.
35:49If you said, okay, at the end of this war, I'm going to retire from politics, you could shut that
35:55down.
35:56Are you, are you tempted to do that?
35:58No, no, I said, you know, it's interesting, I said that after the war, I'm not sure that I will
36:04go, I think that if we will end this war in a fair way, I mean, we will have good
36:12security guarantees, and the sound will be sure that everything is okay, and this is first.
36:20The second reason, in any moment, when you see that people don't trust you, if you respect your nation, you
36:31have to find a way how to give people to make another choice.
36:38And I, I, I, this is, for me, it's number one.
36:42Number one.
36:43Because I, I don't want to be the president, I understand that you can't be the president whom everybody loves.
36:49I understand it, it's okay, it's a pity, but we have to recognize it, yeah, but, but, but, but I
36:57don't want to be, I don't want to be the president who is fighting in elections, but he knows that
37:04he's the last, you know, in this line of members, but he's fighting with administrative resources for this.
37:11No, no, no, no, I, I don't want it.
37:13And, and the third point, when Russians, when Russians say, and begin to say that they want the elections to
37:22change me, that they need, at this moment, I said, I will not, I, I will go to elections.
37:29because Russians don't want
37:31so
37:32don't want me to go
37:35yeah that's it
37:36so mostly
37:37it depends on the
37:40result how this war
37:43will end
37:43two big
37:45for me two big reasons
37:47this and
37:49three sorry this
37:51then the attitude of people
37:53yes and this
37:55this time of course for me
37:58one of the most influential
38:01decisions will depend on my family
38:03and what does your family say
38:05they don't want
38:07they don't want
38:09no no they understand
38:11that I can't go out
38:13during the war
38:15they think that it's a big mistake
38:17of us
38:19they said that in any way
38:20we understand that we want you
38:24to you know
38:25to come home yes like they said
38:27yeah but they said that during the war
38:30it will be a big mistake for
38:32for everybody in the country
38:33and they're citizens
38:34and this is our country
38:36so it's all about surviving our country
38:38so everybody understand
38:41but they don't want you to do it again
38:43yeah they're afraid that I will decide
38:47this way
38:48but I said to them that no
38:50not not this time
38:51I will not
38:52I will not personally decide
38:54myself
38:55I said no
38:55no it was
38:57last time
38:58it was this way
39:00I decided
39:04personally
39:04I thought that it will be
39:07it could be very difficult
39:08this decision
39:09for my family
39:10and
39:11but this time
39:14it can't be so
39:15it can't be so
39:16because we
39:16you know
39:17we went
39:19together
39:20through
39:21such
39:22challenging period
39:24and so
39:24and
39:25long period
39:26and years
39:27and they
39:29I mean this
39:29so
39:30they also had responsibility
39:32it was my choice
39:34but they also
39:36you know
39:36hold this responsibility
39:38yeah
39:39exactly
39:40and
39:41my last question really is
39:43is
39:44do you do anything
39:45to relax
39:47is there a routine
39:48that you can have
39:49that gives you
39:50a little bit of energy
39:52for yourself
39:52you mentioned
39:53it was weeks
39:54before you could have a glass of wine
39:56and relax
39:56and look back at
39:57the crazy times
39:59when the Russians
39:59were trying to kill you
40:00yeah
40:00um
40:01you know
40:02do you have a banya
40:03from time to time
40:05banya
40:05oh
40:07no
40:07what do you do for relaxation
40:08I have
40:10I have a little bit training
40:13training is
40:14is good
40:14I mean some exercises
40:16you don't have
40:18uh
40:19maybe enough time
40:20you know
40:20like
40:21to go to the gym
40:22or that
40:23you know
40:24that
40:24like
40:25you know
40:25men go to the gym
40:27I had such possibility
40:28before this work
40:29really
40:29you go to the gym
40:31yes
40:31you train
40:31and also you can speak
40:33you have some
40:34dialogue with guys
40:35you speak
40:36how are you
40:36and you know
40:37and there are some
40:38even some friends there
40:39and they said
40:40it's like
40:40company
40:41but training
40:42yeah
40:43not smoking
40:44training
40:45yeah
40:45something like this
40:46no different companies
40:48it's people choice
40:49no I'm not pushing
40:51only to the exercises
40:52it's people choice
40:53but
40:54but
40:54today
40:55exercises
40:56is where
40:56I have
40:58earphones
40:59and I have
41:00and I have
41:0030 minutes
41:02and
41:03I relax
41:04this way
41:06and
41:07I
41:07it's a pity
41:08I can't have
41:09a running
41:10possibility
41:11to run
41:11because
41:12to run
41:12at the streets
41:14it's
41:15it's
41:16I mean
41:17it's unbelievable
41:18and it was not
41:19I didn't have
41:20such possibility
41:21during
41:21these four years
41:22of the war
41:24I can't
41:24because of security
41:25and because
41:26I don't want
41:27to run
41:28with a group
41:29of my
41:29people
41:30people with
41:31weapons
41:32yes
41:32I respect them
41:33it's very difficult
41:34to hold
41:35all this weapons
41:36and run
41:37so
41:38this is
41:39and
41:42sometimes
41:43to read
41:43as I said
41:44I love
41:46different
41:47documentary
41:48books
41:48and etc
41:49I love it
41:50but
41:50it's very
41:52difficult
41:52after
41:54different
41:54documents
41:55difficult
41:56to relax
41:56with the
41:57glasses
41:57and
41:58you want
41:59immediately
41:59to sleep
42:00on the
42:01first
42:01second
42:01or
42:02on the
42:02fifth
42:02page
42:02so
42:03you
42:03can't
42:04read
42:04normally
42:05so
42:05to read
42:06a little
42:06bit
42:08and
42:08movie
42:09some
42:10movie
42:11just
42:12on
42:12phone
42:13the problem
42:13that
42:14you can't
42:16you know
42:17it's great
42:18to see
42:19movie
42:20when you
42:20have
42:20for example
42:21two hours
42:22to see
42:22the movie
42:23yeah
42:24you divide
42:24it
42:25and it's
42:25difficult
42:26you know
42:26next day
42:27or the
42:27day
42:28after
42:28or three
42:29days
42:29after
42:29just to
42:30remember
42:30what was
42:32before
42:33so
42:33you have
42:34to begin
42:34not from
42:35the very
42:35beginning
42:36but a little
42:36bit
42:37earlier
42:38so
42:39this is
42:40only
42:40what I
42:41what I
42:41have
42:41I don't
42:42go to
42:42the
42:42restaurants
42:43cafes
42:43something
42:44like
42:44this
42:44concerts
42:45theatres
42:47I don't
42:47go because
42:48I'm
42:48I'm
42:49from
42:50moral
42:51side
42:52it doesn't
42:53mean
42:53target
42:54it doesn't
42:55mean
42:56that I'm
42:56against
42:57when people
42:58go
42:58no
42:58I think
42:59that if
42:59people can
43:00go to
43:00movie
43:00this great
43:01the country
43:02lives
43:04and this
43:05yes
43:05they have
43:05to go
43:06but I
43:07can't like
43:07a president
43:08I mean
43:08this for
43:09me is
43:09difficult
43:09do you
43:10know how
43:10many times
43:11the Russians
43:11have tried
43:12to kill
43:12you
43:12how many
43:13times
43:13they sent
43:13assassins
43:14I heard
43:16the number
43:17but I'm
43:17not sure
43:18that it's
43:18true
43:18you know
43:19that people
43:20even from
43:21intelligence
43:22or people
43:23from secret
43:23service
43:24they want
43:25to show
43:27how they
43:28care
43:28care
43:28yeah
43:29so
43:30what do
43:32they say
43:34well like
43:35five
43:36ten
43:36ten
43:37ten
43:39more
43:39yeah
43:41they said
43:42to me
43:42eleven
43:42times
43:43eleven
43:44times
43:44yeah
43:45but I'm
43:45not
43:45but I'm
43:46not sure
43:47really
43:48I'm not
43:49you think
43:51maybe they're
43:51showing off
43:53no
43:53you know
43:54I mean
43:54this
43:55how it
43:56works
43:57Russians
43:58really
43:58decided
43:59to do
43:59it
44:00and they
44:00prepared
44:01and some
44:02times
44:03that was
44:04in Ukraine
44:05then it
44:05was in
44:06Poland
44:06and etc
44:07we know
44:08sometimes
44:09I know
44:10three four
44:11times
44:11when they
44:12really
44:14decided
44:15to do
44:15it
44:15and prepared
44:16and began
44:17yes
44:17but they've
44:18been stopped
44:19yeah
44:20but
44:21I think
44:22that secret
44:22service
44:23shared with
44:23me the
44:24number
44:24when they
44:25thought about
44:26it
44:26how to
44:27you know
44:27different
44:28kind of
44:28or
44:29different
44:30formats
44:31that's why
44:32I'm not
44:32sure that
44:32it's so
44:33number
44:34when they
44:34try
44:35but I
44:35know
44:36sometimes
44:36when they
44:36try
44:37we know
44:38it
44:39Mr
44:40President
44:40thank you
44:41so much
44:41for your
44:42time
44:42it's been
44:43fascinating
44:43and
44:46I hope
44:47we meet
44:47again
44:47I hope
44:49we meet
44:50again
44:50very soon
44:51and I
44:51hope
44:52also
44:52we can
44:53meet
44:53in
44:54a
44:54peace
44:55time
44:55we actually
44:56met
44:56many years
44:57ago
44:57soon after
44:58you were
44:58elected
44:59in 2019
45:00when
45:01your only
45:02problem
45:02was
45:04Biden
45:05Jr
45:05and
45:06those
45:07issues
45:08yeah
45:09now I
45:09understand
45:10that it
45:11was not
45:11a challenge
45:12real
45:12challenge
45:15thank you
45:16Mr
45:16President
45:16all the
45:17best
45:17you're
45:17welcome
45:18thank you
45:18thank you
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