Zelenskyy: Ukrainian Army Lacks Strength to Liberate All Occupied Territories, Diplomatic Solutions Needed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that diplomacy may play a crucial role in reclaiming Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea after Ukraine secures NATO membership, said Zelenskyy in an interview with Kyodo News on December 1.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s military lacks the strength to fully liberate these areas by force, signaling a potential shift in his approach to ending the war.

“Our army lacks the strength to do that. That is true,” Zelenskyy said. “We do have to find diplomatic solutions.”

He emphasized that such solutions could only be considered when Ukraine is strong enough to deter further Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to an early end to the war while urging NATO to accelerate membership talks.

Zelenskyy appreciated Japan, the United States, South Korea, and numerous European and other countries for assisting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.

But he stressed that more help is needed to strengthen Ukraine.

“Support from our partners is not enough,” he said, as Russia’s forces continue to press in eastern Ukraine.

He also expressed concern about the deployment of 12,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region, predicting they will be used as “cannon fodder” by Putin.

He added that these troops could return to North Korea with advanced military training, posing a significant threat to the Asian region.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to participate in a three-hour podcast with Lex Fridman, a podcast host known for his long-form interviews on science, politics, and culture.