Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes the war with Russia is “closer to an end” than many people think and called on allies to strengthen Ukraine’s army.
“The victory plan is to strengthen Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said during a sit-down interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts. “That’s why we’re asking our friends, our allies, to strengthen us. It’s very important.”
Tune in to “Good Morning America” Tuesday at 7 a.m. ET to see more of Robin Roberts’ exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“I think we are closer to peace than we think,” he continued. “We are nearing the end of the war.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska speak with Robin Roberts of ABC News in New York City on September 23, 2024.
ABC News
Zelensky spoke to Roberts when he visited New York on Monday for the UN General Assembly this week as part of a trip to the US where he has promised to present what he calls his “victory plan” to the president Joe Biden as well as other important American political leaders.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly appealed to the United States and Great Britain to release their restrictions on the long-range missiles they have provided Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has meanwhile warned that the use of Western weapons to strike Russian targets would be seen as a serious escalation of the war and a direct challenge to NATO countries.
Zelenskyy’s request comes amid fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, as well as weeks after Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine said it seized hundreds of square kilometers and dozens of villages inside the Kursk region at the start of its surprise offensive.
Zelenskyy told Roberts that Putin is “scared” of the Kursk operation.
“It’s true. He’s very scared,” he said. “Why? Because his people saw that he cannot defend—that he cannot defend his entire territory.”
The Ukrainian leader said that only from a “strong position” can Ukraine “press Putin to stop the war.”
Zelenskyy was joined by his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, for the interview. Later this week, Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Washington to meet with Biden and presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.