Ukrainian President Zelenksy: "Previous U.S. Sanctions Threats Were BS; I Asked for Preventive Measures"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has revealed that he asked the United States for preventive sanctions against Russia before the full-scale invasion, dismissing earlier warnings as "bullshit." In an interview with American podcaster Lex Friedman, Zelenksy stated his disapproval of simply threatening sanctions in response to an invasion.
"All I asked for, first and foremost from the United States, is if you’re certain, if you have evidence, if he [Putin] tells you he’s going to invade, and it scares you, just give me two things: strengthen us with weapons, but above all, strengthen us with preconditions to prevent any war. I’m not asking for weapons first; I’m asking for sanctions," Zelenksy told Friedman. "Don’t say, ‘If he comes, if he crosses the border, if he starts killing, then we’ll impose sanctions.’ That’s bullshit, excuse my language."
Friedman, who understands Russian, acknowledged understanding Zelenksy’s point without translation. He then asked if the President felt that Ukraine had not received adequate support. Zelenksy responded, "I think not. We didn’t receive help… If we consider words as help, then we received a lot of it, even too much, because there were too many words."
Zelensky’s comments shed light on the diplomatic efforts leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the persistent call for tougher actions to deter aggression. The interview underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and decisive action in the face of mounting geopolitical tensions.
