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Zelenskyy: Russia can intensify the offensive

2024-05-18 16:14:04, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could intensify the offensive, but added that Kiev would only accept a "just peace", despite Western calls for a quick resolution to the conflict. Mr. Zelenskyy made the comments during an interview with the French news agency 'AFP'.

He also repeated pleas to allies to send more air defense systems and fighter jets to Ukraine's aid.

As a law on military mobilization came into force on Saturday, Mr Zelenskyy acknowledged problems with personnel and "morale" in the ranks of the Ukrainian army, which has often had problems with weapons and manpower.

Russian troops have made gradual advances in recent months, taking control of large swaths of territory along the northeastern border in an offensive that began on May 10 in the Kharkiv region.

But Mr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Ukraine would continue to maintain its defensive positions and stop any major advances by the Russian military.

" No one will surrender ," said Mr Zelenskyy, who has been the face of Ukraine's resistance against Russia since the offensive began in February 2022.

President Zelenskyy rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's call for a ceasefire during this year's Paris Olympics, saying it would give Moscow an "advantage" by giving it time to move troops and artillery.

He said Ukraine and its Western allies had "the same values" but often "different views", particularly on what the end of the conflict might look like.

" Everyone wants to find a way for the war to end as soon as possible ," he said, when asked about the possibility of a scenario to end the conflict.

President Zelenskyy asked China and developing countries to attend a high-level meeting on peace among dozens of other leaders, which is expected to be held in a neutral country like Switzerland next month. Moscow is not invited to the meeting.

He said global players like China have influence on Russia.

" And the more such countries we have on our side, on the side of those who seek to end the war, the more Russia will go in this direction ," he said./ VOA