Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns of threat from Russian aggression

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns of threat from Russian aggression

KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the entire international order is under threat from Russian aggression against his country in an exclusive interview with The Yomiuri ShimbunYomiuri Shimbun on Thursday. Zelenskyy's distrust was also evident in his distrust of a 12 point proposal presented by China.

There are some countries with imperialistic ambitions that can begin the same aggressive steps. That is very dangerous, Zelenskyy said, warning of the global political implications of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

Asked what should be done to prevent an invasion by a hegemonic military force, he replied, Only Russia's defeat in this war. Since February 2022, when the Russian aggression began, Zelenskyy has tried to gain support from the international community. Help us win, he said in the Yomiuri interview. He stated that he wanted to appeal to international public opinion about the need for support for Ukraine.

He said he wanted to ask Japan for diplomatic support for the Kyiv Security Compact, a new security framework that Ukraine is advocating to prevent Ukraine from being invaded again.

Tanks will be deployed soon.

In Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, the fierce battle between Ukrainian and Russian forces has continued, with increasing deaths among Ukrainians.

Zelenskyy said: We do not have ammunition. The situation in the East is not good for us. He appealed for an increase in the supply of ammunition from the United States and European countries.

The tanks provided by Germany and other countries are expected to be deployed in the battle from April. Zelenskyy said We need tanks for the deoccupation of Ukraine and that he intends to deploy them to break through the Russian military defense line. There is concern in the United States and European countries that providing weapons to Ukraine could lead to an escalation of fighting. Zelenskyy countered that notion by saying, I would like people to stop getting scared by threats from the Russian Federation. He said people should understand that Ukraine's refusal to give up its territory posed no risk of a third world war, so allowing Ukraine to fall would pose such a risk. He said that the world is paying only money and weapons and that the more we are, the less possibilities there are for Russia to go through Europe and thus for a third world war. It doesn't pay for the lives of our people. Zelenskyy expressed doubt about China's 12 point proposal, which does not mention the complete withdrawal of Russian troops or the return of all territory seized by Russia. Although China has been promoting itself as an active mediator for achieving peace, he poured cold water on China's stated intention.

Zelenskyy said that his sovereignty and territorial integrity comes first, making it clear that he does not regard China's proposal as an actual peace plan.

Ukraine presented its 10 point peace proposal last November. It includes the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including in southern Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014. Although China's 12 point plan does call for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, it is designed to accommodate the Russian government of President Vladimir Putin, which insists on recognition of areas Russia has unilaterally annexed as Russian territory. Zelenskyy wants to push China's President Xi Jinping to cooperate with the Ukrainian peace plan, but it is likely to be hard to persuade Xi, who wants to avoid weakening Russia, to maintain it as a counterweight to the United States.