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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that victory for Ukraine is not only about regaining territory but also about preserving its people and independence. He said this in an interview with BBC.
During the conversation, the interviewer noted that some analysts, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump, believe Ukraine cannot win the war and could lose if it refuses concessions to Russia. Zelenskyy rejected that view, pointing out that Ukraine continues to fight for its independence.
He stressed that victory means restoring normal life for Ukrainians and ending the tragedy of war. At the same time, he said stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin and preventing the occupation of Ukraine would be a victory not only for Ukraine but for the whole world, because Russia would not stop with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy explained that there can be different kinds of victory. He is confident Ukraine will eventually regain its territories, but attempting to do so immediately—given the size of the Russian army—could cost millions of Ukrainian lives. “What is land without people? Honestly, nothing,” he said.
Summing up, the president said Ukraine’s victory is primarily about preserving independence and protecting its people, while the return of all occupied territories would be a victory of justice. He also noted that Ukraine currently lacks both the manpower and sufficient weapons to quickly liberate all occupied land, adding that this depends not only on Kyiv but also on support from international partners.
