Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was sitting calmly across a table from the cafeteria of a moving train. His black sweater matched the pitch-black sky outside, and the golden coat of arms of Ukraine was embroidered on the chest.
“If we have permission and missiles, we will hear the results on the battlefield,” Zelenskiy said with a little smile on his face. “I didn't use it today.”
Hours later, Ukraine's wartime leaders would order six long-range missiles supplied by the United States into southern Russia. The move reshaped the trajectory of the war, now more than 1,000 days old.
Zelenskiy worries that it will be dangerous if Ukraine loses its unity 1,000 days after the start of the war, and that it will be defeated if the US cuts funding
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke to FOX News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Inst about the future of his country's borders. (Fox News)
Russian leaders have warned for months that such a move would be seen as direct Western involvement in the conflict and could spark World War III. For Ukraine, the decision was highly anticipated and came more than six months after American-made ATACMS arrived in the country along with similar weapons from Britain and France.
“All our partners are constantly asking for permission from the United States,” Zelenskiy lamented. “If the United States doesn't make concessions, Europe won't either.”
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The 44-year-old president spoke with determination after a long day traveling on the eastern front. He met soldiers in the cities of Kupyansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk and was told that they were running out of ammunition and shells. The long war of attrition was rapidly changing and was not in Ukraine's favor.
The 24-hour journey was considered a top-secret mission by Ukraine's military, intelligence services and government since the start of the conflict with Russia, nearly three years ago. Zelenskiy remains a key target.
The echoes of artillery fire pierced the air as we emerged from the Pokrovsk bunker.
“You can hear it, we're getting very close,” Zelenskiy said.
Soldiers of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fire a Gyatsint-S 152mm self-propelled howitzer at a Russian military position near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine 24th Mechanized Brigade, via AP)
As he drove to his next location, Zelenskiy thought about what he would say to the civilians who had put their lives on hold to dig trenches outside the city.
Russian soldiers are advancing far, and Ukraine will need to build additional defenses dug into the earth to slow the enemy's movements.
While defending some areas along a front line of more than 600 miles, his forces must use Western weapons whenever possible to target stationed Russian soldiers, joined by thousands of North Korean troops. There will be.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (right) speaks at the announcement of the G7 countries' joint declaration in support of Ukraine while looking at President Biden on July 12, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Asked if there were any specific targets that the United States was encouraging Ukraine not to attack with the new ATACMS missile, President Zelenskiy checked with his interpreter to make sure he had heard the question correctly before answering.
“The Americans were not happy,” Zelenskiy recalled. “They weren't happy, so [of] We are targeting several energy targets within Russian territory. ”
