Gratitude for Italy's support, the conviction of winning the war, our country's role in reconstruction and the future of his in the EU, the response to Berlusconi's statements about Putin. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks broadly in the interviews given to some Italian newspapers and filmed by news agencies.
«We have just met Meloni in Brussels and I am happy to welcome you to Ukraine – his words to Corriere – I am very grateful to Italy for choosing to send us weapons for both anti-aircraft defense and artillery. We expect full cooperation from Europe and we are sure that we will become members , also because we are cleaning up our oligarchs and internal corruption. It is essential for us not to lose the support of Italy and no other country, which we have cultivated with great effort against the Kremlin's intense disinformation campaign in recent years. Giorgia is a strong woman who can keep the government together ».
As for Berlusconi, " he likes vodka - jokes Zelensky about the recent outings of the leader of Foza Italia - we have some of excellent quality in Ukraine, if he thinks we can give it to him ".
On the other hand, with respect to the tensions between Washington and Beijing and the fear that the Chinese might send weapons to Russia, Zelensky replied: "I have addressed the Chinese leaders through direct channels and publicly so that they do not offer any support to the Russians ", while with respect to the openness to the dialogue left open by Macron with Putin, for Zelensky the French president «is wasting his time . We are unable to change the Russian attitude."
With regards to the progress of the conflict on the ground, he tells La Repubblica, the president assures that “ the war will be quick because Russia lacks the resources and the will to fight . A truce would only suit them. We are ready to repel the Russian offensive, we will defend Bakhmut and every single centre, big or small, with maximum strength. This week we may have to deal with Russia's vengeance, indeed there is talk of an offensive coming . But they are not as powerful as they were a year ago, when they didn't have enough resources to occupy our country anyway. Today they are weaker. We, on the other hand, are stronger. We are preparing for a short-lived war that will end in victory. Ukrainians hate Putin's policy and he can't help it. Putin wants to rebuild the USSR, he won't succeed. The Italians must understand that they cannot leave us alone».
On the other hand, regarding reconstruction , we read in the columns of the Sole24Ore, Zelensky outlines a strategy: Europe and democracy , «this is the priority . Secondly, we want to understand who the real partners are and where we show a production deficit. For us, the United States is the technology market».
There are three major priorities in rebuilding the economy . The first is « energy , diversifying production and storing electricity». Then «the development of the agricultural sector . Ukraine is and will increasingly be the granary of Europe. We are ready to build new wheat hubs in the EU, Africa and Asia. Another direction of development: Cyber Security ». Reconstruction will take place in two phases : «The first is emergency reconstruction, what we need right away: bomb shelters for kindergartens, schools, universities. Homes where people can go back, and go back to work. The second phase will be the real reconstruction ».
And to Italian companies he says: « Come here and we will rebuild Ukraine together . French and German companies are not enough».
(Unioneonline/vl)
