TOKYO—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that his country is seeking an early end to the war with Russia and the return of part of its territory by Moscow through diplomacy after Kyiv’s NATO membership becomes certain.
In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelenskyy also said North Korean soldiers deployed in western Russia to fight on Moscow’s side in the war have been killed, and it is almost certain they will ultimately be used as “cannon fodder” on the front lines of the conflict.
With Russia advancing faster in the eastern part of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said support for his country from its partners is “not enough” and urged NATO to invite Kyiv for membership talks with the transatlantic military alliance as soon as possible.
Responding to all questions in Ukrainian, he frankly admitted it is difficult to retake by force some of the Russian-occupied parts of the country, including Crimea that Russia annexed in 2014.
“Our army lacks the strength to do that. That is true,” he said. “We do have to find diplomatic solutions.”
But he went on to say that such steps could be considered “only when we know that we are strong enough” that Russia cannot launch a new aggression against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, who continues to see NATO membership as indispensable for Ukraine’s security and prosperity, underscored that the war has entered a “complicated period.”
Suggesting Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate the return of some part of the occupied areas after the conflict is over, provided necessary conditions are met, his remarks appear to represent a shift from his long-held position that his country will fight to regain all territory seized by Russia.
Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for Japan, the United States, South Korea and numerous European and other countries that have provided assistance to Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia. But he stressed that more help is needed to strengthen Ukraine.
The 46-year-old president did not say how many North Korean troops, initially transferred to eastern Russia in October, had been killed or wounded in combat against Ukrainian forces.
He said there is evidence that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers had been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine, but Kyiv needs “to have proof” before disclosing the exact number of casualties.
He predicted that many North Korean soldiers will be sent to the front lines of the war in the future, and it is “indisputable” that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use them “as cannon fodder” to reduce losses to his country’s military.
In an attempt to attract tens of thousands of additional North Korean soldiers, Zelenskyy said Russia has been treating the dispatched troops well.
What may matter more in the long run, he said, is that North Korean soldiers will have been trained by the Russian military in actual war conditions as they seek to acquire knowledge of modern warfare such as how to use drones and other recent technologies.
He warned it would have a tremendous impact on Asia and elsewhere if they bring such know-how back to North Korea.
Editor’s Note: See full story at Kyodo News
