Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky judged, during an interview he granted to AFP, that the raids of Russian troops in the Kharkiv region (north-east) are probably only the first stage of wider Russian offensive operations and that Moscow would like to “attack” in its homonymous capital.

“They started their business, it can consist of many waves. And this is their first wave. But the situation is under control after this first wave,” the head of state assured, while Russia made its biggest territorial gains since late 2022.

He also estimated that Russia does not have the means to launch a ground operation to capture the capital of his country, Kiev.

“They do not have the forces for a large-scale attack on the capital, as at the beginning of the invasion,” Mr Zelensky said in February 2022, insisting that Donbass (east) and Kharkiv (north-east) are now the Kremlin’s main targets .

The Ukrainian president acknowledged that Ukraine does not have the necessary number of soldiers, which is hurting the morale of the forces.

He also said that Ukraine has only a quarter of the air defense systems it needs, and to end Russia’s dominance of the airwaves it will also need 120 to 130 US-made F-16 fighter jets.

He also noted that the West has banned him from using weapons supplied to his country’s armed forces by Europe and the US to hit targets on Russian territory.

As he characteristically stated, “they” (the Russians) can bomb us from their soil, this is the biggest advantage that Russia has, but we cannot do anything to hit their systems on Russian soil with Western weapons. We have not been given such a right.” He added that he protested this to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during their meeting this week.

He also said that the West is “afraid” both of the defeat of Russia and the defeat of his country. “We are in an absurd situation, in which the West is afraid of the possibility that Russia will lose the war. And (at the same time) he doesn’t want to let Ukraine lose. Because a definitive victory for Ukraine would mean a defeat for Russia, and a definitive victory for Russia would mean a defeat for Ukraine,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally emphasized that he rejects the possibility of an Olympic truce.

“I told him: Emmanuel (p. AFP : Macron, the president of France, who put the idea on the table), we don’t believe it. Let’s imagine for a moment that a ceasefire is declared. First of all, we don’t trust (acting president of Russia Vladimir) Putin. Second, he will not withdraw his troops. Thirdly (…), tell me, Emmanuel – I told him -, who guarantees us that Russia will not take advantage to bring troops to our territory?” “We are against any truce that plays the enemy’s game.”