Ukraine war: Zelensky rules out territory deal with Putin in BBC interview

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled retired giving up immoderate of his country's territory successful a imaginable bid woody with Russia.

In a BBC interrogation to people a twelvemonth since Russia's full-scale invasion, helium warned conceding onshore would mean Russia could "keep coming back", portion Western weapons would bring bid closer.

Mr Zelensky besides said a predicted outpouring violative had already begun.

"Russian attacks are already happening from respective directions," helium said.

He does, however, judge Ukraine's forces tin support resisting Russia's beforehand until they are capable to motorboat a counter-offensive - though helium repeated his calls for much subject assistance from the West.

"Of course, modern weapons velocity up peace. Weapons are the lone connection Russia understands," Mr Zelensky told the BBC.

He met UK and EU leaders past week successful a bid to bolster planetary enactment and to inquire for modern arms to support his country. When Ukraine's president asked for modern combatant jets, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "nothing is disconnected the table".

But Kyiv has go progressively frustrated with the velocity with which Western weapons person arrived. Deliveries of conflict tanks - promised past period by a swathe of Western countries, including Germany, the US and the UK - are inactive thought to beryllium weeks distant from arriving connected the battlefield.

"I anticipation [Belarus] won't articulation [the war]," helium said. "If it does, we volition combat and we volition survive." Allowing Russia to usage Belarus arsenic a staging station for an onslaught again would beryllium a "huge mistake", helium added.

Russian forces launched portion of their full-scale penetration from Belarus 12 months ago. They drove southbound towards Ukraine's superior Kyiv but were fought backmost and made to retreat wrong weeks, aft suffering dense casualties.

When asked if helium was amazed by Russia's tactics successful the war, Mr Zelensky described them arsenic "valueless".

"The mode they destroyed everything. If their soldiers received [and carried out] those orders, that means they stock those aforesaid values."

Ukrainian information released this week suggested Russian troops successful Ukraine were dying successful greater numbers this period that astatine immoderate clip since the archetypal week of their invasion. The figures cannot beryllium verified, but the UK's Ministry of Defence said the trends were "likely accurate".

"Today, our endurance is our unity," said Mr Zelensky connected however helium thought the warfare volition end. "I judge Ukraine is warring for its survival." His state was moving towards Europe economically, arsenic good arsenic done its values, helium said.

"We chose this path. We privation information guarantees. Any territorial compromises would marque america weaker arsenic a state."

"It's not astir compromise itself," helium said. "Why would we beryllium acrophobic of that? We person millions of compromises successful beingness each day.

"The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there's nary trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there's nary trust."