- Title: Germany must help fight Russian fascism and supply weapons - Zelenskiy
- Date: 16th September 2022
- Summary: KYIV, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 16, 2022) (REUTERS) REUTERS JOURNALIST IN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE WAITING FOR UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, TO ARRIVE FOR INTERVIEW ZELENSKIY ARRIVING, SHAKING HANDS WITH JOURNALIST VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY WALKING, SITTING DOWN ZELENSKIY LISTENING TO THE JOURNALIST'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING: "As for the Germans, I don’t think they currently have any analogy to what happened in World War II. On the other hand, German equipment is help for us. Armour equipment is key to preserving our lives. The air defence we’ve discussed for so long and finally got the agreement from the Germans. This is about defence, defending our people and children." VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING: "We are still waiting on the decision on supplying tanks from the USA. I would really like for them and other partners to supply this. This would push Germany towards making a decision on this issue. The (Germany) are a powerful independent country. They are grown and are able to solve certain problems autonomously. They could be the first in certain decisions. I would like this to happen." VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY TALKING DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING: "The issue of armour equipment and tanks ignites a certain response from the Germans. They don't understand how their (German) equipment could be on Ukrainian territory. They have psychological barriers on (supplying) certain equipment. But this is an internal issue. I think that modern German equipment here fighting for truth, fighting against Russian fascism would signify exactly this, the fight of modern Germany against Russian fascism." VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY TALKING DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING: "I understand their fears, but you don’t have to look for reasons to actually help people, to support life on this planet and not the other way around. So German aid is very important for us. Indeed, it is influenced by the supply of tanks from the US and other countries – they could significantly impact the Germans' decision." ZELENSKIY TALKING DURING THE INTERVIEW
- Embargoed: 30th September 2022 17:49
- Keywords: German support for Ukraine Russian invasion german tanks war in Ukraine
- Location: KYIV, UKRAINE
- City: KYIV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA001592516092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters on Friday (September 16) that German air defence and tanks are crucial to defending Ukrainian lives from "Russian fascism."
In an interview at the presidential office in central Kyiv, Zelenskiy said that modern Germany was not comparable to Germany during the Second World War and called German hesitation to supply tanks an "internal issue."
Zelenskiy added that an independent and powerful Germany could take the decision to supply tanks to Ukraine on its own.
He said he hoped that a positive decision by the United States on tanks could "significantly impact the Germans' decision" to also supply tanks.
Zelenskiy, who visited Izium earlier this week, also reiterated during Friday's interview his appeal for foreign powers to step up weapons supplies to Ukraine, saying the war's outcome hinged on their swift delivery.
He lauded Ukraine's rapid counter-offensive but said it was too soon to talk of the tide turning in a war now well into its seventh month.
(Production: Yurii Khomenko, Valentyn Ogirenko, Vladyslav Smilyanets, Sergiy Karazy, Sergiy Voloshyn, Felix Hoske) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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