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Exclusive: Zelenskiy speaks on fifth anniversary of inauguration

Western allies are taking too long to make key decisions on military support for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters. He also said the situation on the battlefield was "one of the most difficult" he had known since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Read the full interview

Zelenskiy chastises West for slow military aid. May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Behind the news

"I think there are several reasons why Zelenskiy wanted to speak to us now," Reuters' Mike Collett-White told today's Reuters World News podcast. "Interestingly, we interviewed him on Monday, May 20, five years to the day after he was inaugurated as president. So, I think there was a symbolic reason there."

"Beyond that, things are not going well on the battlefield. And Zelenskiy was pushing possibly harder than he has before his message for more aid, faster aid."

The Ukrainian leader also wants countries to get more involved in the war by helping to intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine and allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons against enemy military equipment amassing near the border.

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