Zelensky: "The counteroffensive is not a Hollywood movie... Russia is not ready for nuclear"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that progress on the battlefield to reclaim Russian-occupied territories is proceeding more slowly than expected. He also asserted that the likelihood of Russian President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in the actual war is low.

In an interview with the British BBC released on the 21st (local time), President Zelensky said, "(The advance) is slower than expected," adding, "Some people treat this like a Hollywood movie and expect immediate results, but that cannot happen." He revealed that "what is important now is people's lives," explaining that the Russian military has laid mines across 200,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, making the advance difficult.

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military launched a large-scale counteroffensive in the southeastern regions of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk. In the early stages of the counterattack, they succeeded in recapturing eight villages in two regions, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, but reportedly suffered significant casualties due to Russian defensive lines. Russia has also incurred heavy losses, and both sides have been engaged in a back-and-forth battle.

President Zelensky emphasized that even if the war prolongs, Ukraine will not accept what is known as a 'Frozen Conflict.' A frozen conflict refers to a military standoff where direct fighting has ceased but the confrontation continues, with the Korean Peninsula after the Korean War being a representative example.

He stated, "Victory on the battlefield is necessary," and added, "No matter how much the counteroffensive progresses, we will not agree to a frozen conflict because it ultimately means war and is hopeless for Ukraine."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the same day, President Zelensky also predicted that the possibility of President Putin actually using nuclear weapons is low. On the 9th, President Putin, facing a turning tide in the war, announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the neighboring country Belarus, continuing nuclear threats. In response, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Putin's nuclear threats are not exaggerations but a 'reality,' heightening nuclear crisis concerns.

When asked if he was worried about Putin's nuclear threats, President Zelensky said, "He has been a dangerous figure since 2014," but added, "(Putin) may mention the use of nuclear weapons, but I believe he is afraid of losing his life and values his own life, so he is not prepared to actually use them." However, he added, "In the 21st century, it is hard to say anything for certain about a person who has waged full-scale war against a neighbor."

Meanwhile, at the 'Ukraine Reconstruction Conference' held in London, UK, on the same day, major Western countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU) pledged non-military support to help Ukraine rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the Russian invasion, eradicate corruption, and meet the conditions for EU membership.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $1.3 billion (approximately 1.7 trillion KRW) in aid to Ukraine, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Group of Seven (G7) would establish a war insurance system to encourage private investors to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction projects.

The World Bank has estimated that the cost of rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by the Russian invasion in Ukraine will reach $411 billion.