Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he fears the conflict in Ukraine could escalate into World War III unless Russia’s invasion is stopped with the support of Kiev’s Western allies.
In an interview with German state broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Zelenskiy warned that a Russian attack on a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would be “the beginning of World War III.”
“The Prime Minister (Olav Scholz) seems to be aware of this risk,” Zelenskiy said.
He also wants to use his economic advantage to attract more support from EU countries to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, amid expectations that military aid from the United States could be reduced due to Republican opposition in Congress. asked Germany.
“The U.S.’s reluctance and lack of support would be a bad sign,” he said.
Asked whether Berlin could play a bigger role in this case if aid from the United States dries up, Zelenskiy said: “Germany can somehow strengthen the EU.”
“Many countries have important economic relations with Germany, and Germany’s economic power is strong, so their economies depend on Germany’s decisions,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to reporters after a meeting at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos
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He also expressed disappointment that Germany had refused to supply Ukraine with powerful Taurus cruise missiles, suggesting that Germany had not played “the role it should have played in the initial occupation of Ukraine.”
He said the weak Western response to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea emboldened the Kremlin to launch a full-scale invasion in 2022, placing blame beyond Germany’s response. Ta.
“This is not just about Olaf Scholz,” he says. “This is about European leaders and the United States.”
Officials of the Russian Investigative Committee walk through the remains of the Russian military Il-76 plane crash site near Yablonovo, Belgorod region, Russia
(Russian Investigative Committee)
US President Joe Biden has called for continued support for Ukraine in the form of significant arms and financial aid, but this has been blocked in Congress by Republicans who say the aid package should be tied to combating illegal immigration into the US. ing.
Zelenskiy said the issue does not mean the entire Republican Party opposes support for the Kiev fight, and that Ukraine receives support across the political divide in the United States.
“While some individual Republicans do not support Ukraine, the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans do support Ukraine,” he said.