Speaker 1: President Zelenski, thank you so much for taking the time
Speaker 1: for speaking with Bloomberg. Yet again, thank you very much.
Speaker 1: I'd like to begin by taking a step back. We've
Speaker 1: now been at war for three years and nine months almost.
Speaker 1: There is a lot of concern. Each of those days
Speaker 1: is measured in lives and resources. There's concerns that it's
Speaker 1: now a stalemate, a forever war. Now today on day
Speaker 1: one thousand, three hundred and fifty seven, from the United
Speaker 1: States and from Europe, what do you need to meaningfully
Speaker 1: change the course of the war.
Speaker 2: Thank you very much, Not to lose your support, not
Speaker 2: to lose unity between the United States and Europe.
Speaker 3: Around Ukrainian question.
Speaker 2: First of all, what we need we need between us, Yes,
Speaker 2: longer artillery we really need. There's a big deficit on
Speaker 2: the front line. I mean this during this war.
Speaker 3: It's not the question of this day. It's a question
Speaker 3: for this war. And of course we need air defense.
Speaker 2: We're thankful for program Poor. We are thankful to President Yes,
Speaker 2: and this is very important. He opened this corridor that
Speaker 2: we can buy by we can buy air defense. I
Speaker 2: mean missiles Pack three first of all, PUCK three and
Speaker 2: of course systems with system is difficult because it's always
Speaker 2: the question of time.
Speaker 3: Yes, but we can't wait because they attack us each day.
Speaker 2: And we began to work on intercept Us droned intercept Us.
Speaker 2: We have our production and by the way, good production,
Speaker 2: American Ukraine production, co production. I'm happy that we have
Speaker 2: co productions already we started.
Speaker 3: This, but I hope that in future we will have more.
Speaker 2: So I think here defense number one longer ertilly, as
Speaker 2: I said, and of course if you will ask me,
Speaker 2: what can change, Yes, we need long range, Yes, we
Speaker 2: need long range.
Speaker 3: Somebody. By the way, I had conversations with centers as.
Speaker 2: You mentioned at the very beginning, and bipartisan support.
Speaker 3: We are thankful.
Speaker 2: But we spoke about tomahawks for for example, I said,
Speaker 2: it's not only about the mahawks. There are some similar
Speaker 2: long range things and important were important things. Look, there
Speaker 2: are military targets on the territory of Russia which have
Speaker 2: a huge air defense around because they need to save.
Speaker 3: That's why it's not enough to have drawns. We need,
Speaker 3: you know, some come out of the package.
Speaker 2: So if we want to answer, because they attack us
Speaker 2: and we have to answer, that's why we raised this
Speaker 2: topic with American side.
Speaker 1: Another topic at the battle lines right now. The battle
Speaker 1: for Pokorovsk is currently being waged. There have been some
Speaker 1: suggestions from allies saying that it might make sense to
Speaker 1: have a tactical retreat to conserve military, conserve resources, conserve
Speaker 1: lives in order to regroup. Is that something that you're
Speaker 1: actively considering. Has the time the time come to take
Speaker 1: a retreat.
Speaker 3: In any way?
Speaker 2: This is really this is a decision of generals, and
Speaker 2: of course I will support our soldiers, especially commanders who
Speaker 2: are there, which how they can control the situation or
Speaker 2: it's too expensive for us, We can't lose the most
Speaker 2: important for us, this is our soldiers, and of course
Speaker 2: they have to they need to decide on the battlefield,
Speaker 2: decide the place. But you have to know the most
Speaker 2: expensive months during these three years and.
Speaker 3: Nine months, the months for Rusians because of crops.
Speaker 2: They lost in October more than twenty five thousand people.
Speaker 2: It's only I mean, this is twenty five thousand what
Speaker 2: we control from drums. So there are video effects of this,
Speaker 2: So I don't know the total number of their losses
Speaker 2: during October, but only only fixed by video. Twenty five thousands.
Speaker 1: And something something you do control and there will be
Speaker 1: renewed discussions about this around manpower, whether or not you
Speaker 1: need to expand the conscription. Is that something you were
Speaker 1: looking at. This is something that you may hear more
Speaker 1: from allies, given the retreat you've had to make in
Speaker 1: Zaporisia for example.
Speaker 2: Look, the question of people, of course, is the most
Speaker 2: sensitive and the most difficult and difficult for me, for soldiers.
Speaker 3: For people, for society and for partners.
Speaker 2: Yes, and of course we don't have a really comparable
Speaker 2: number of people because you know that the size of Russia, yes,
Speaker 2: and you know the size of your grain.
Speaker 3: Yes. But this is the balance. You can't even.
Speaker 2: If soldiers ask to mobilize more people.
Speaker 3: You have to balance. It's a very difficult question.
Speaker 2: You have to balance because there is a society people
Speaker 2: they have to work, and they have they need, They
Speaker 2: have to work and pay taxes, and then this money
Speaker 2: goes to army. So you have to find the balance.
Speaker 2: So I react during military.
Speaker 3: Cabinets, and of course soldiers.
Speaker 2: Raised this topic and partners, yes, but partners are not
Speaker 2: at the battlefield. And that's why, with all respect, with
Speaker 2: all respect, I said, the decision of our army awards
Speaker 2: to mobilize thought about thirty thousand per months.
Speaker 3: And the system now is.
Speaker 1: Doing this, and one of those partners is President Donald Trump.
Speaker 1: He seemed very committed to the idea of a ceasefire.
Speaker 1: Now it seems that the diplomatic line for now is closed.
Speaker 1: You know, President Trump and you understand one another much
Speaker 1: better than you did back in February. With that understanding,
Speaker 1: how do you bring him back to the table and
Speaker 1: on your side.
Speaker 3: Of the table, how to bring bad Trump?
Speaker 1: Yes, committing to the idea.
Speaker 2: This is I think this is important for me if
Speaker 2: and for our people. And this is a big you're
Speaker 2: much more bigger than than in Ukraine.
Speaker 3: We paid the most you know, high price because it's.
Speaker 2: Only Ukrainian losses here, but human losses of course, first
Speaker 2: of all.
Speaker 3: But we have to understand that also.
Speaker 2: I think this, this is important for America, and I
Speaker 2: think this is very important not to give possibility Russia
Speaker 2: just to I mean that Russia began this aggression.
Speaker 3: Russia began this war.
Speaker 2: If the war against us, they have they stolen you know,
Speaker 2: thousands of Ukrainian children. We can't I mean, they don't
Speaker 2: respect they don't respect the law, but they really respect
Speaker 2: the United States.
Speaker 3: They respect President Trump.
Speaker 2: I really think that President Trump can push put into
Speaker 2: negotiations and that's why.
Speaker 3: This is very important. And I think that you know,
Speaker 3: like I said to centers, were very thankful to first lady.
Speaker 2: And I'm very thankful, like the President of Ukraine that
Speaker 2: our first ladies Lena and Millennia, that they spoke, they
Speaker 2: began to work on children question, how to bring kids back.
Speaker 2: This is very important and I'm thankful to her and
Speaker 2: to other leaders who also helped us for this moment.
Speaker 3: We brought one thousand and six hundred children.
Speaker 1: And you mentioned the Pearl Defense program that was rolled
Speaker 1: out earlier this year. Is that bringing you what you
Speaker 1: need at this stage?
Speaker 2: And I'm thankful to President that we can get what
Speaker 2: we need. Not enough, but it depends on you know,
Speaker 2: different things, but not enough, but not enough air defense,
Speaker 2: not enough missiles. I work on it personally. I work
Speaker 2: on it personally each day here in Ukraine and abroad.
Speaker 3: We have different systems.
Speaker 2: We have nasoms, Irish t hawks, Patriot systems, different systems
Speaker 2: and for these systems we need or it's about missiles
Speaker 2: or the questions of money, and I need to get
Speaker 2: these fonds and to push these money for air defense
Speaker 2: for PRO. Now we have this ploral that's why this
Speaker 2: is very important.
Speaker 1: And then the US shutdown. There have been reports that
Speaker 1: the US shutdown has been affecting the PRO program, that
Speaker 1: maybe it's been creating difficulties for allies to purchase through
Speaker 1: the program, it has had delays to deliveries. Has the
Speaker 1: US shutdown had an impact on the battlefield for you?
Speaker 2: All such things in the United States, of course have influence.
Speaker 2: You have to understand that you are bleaders and we
Speaker 2: count on your support. And of course any kind of
Speaker 2: such challenges in your country have influence. Of course, because
Speaker 2: there is nothing it's not about the will of one
Speaker 2: or not it I mean this people or institutions. Sometimes
Speaker 2: it goes like because of logistics, you know, some slow steps,
Speaker 2: we need it and it comes later or or doesn't.
Speaker 3: So I mean that's why such things, of course.
Speaker 1: Have So it's feed on the battle of the US shutdown.
Speaker 3: Of course we have influence on it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but important that not of the will of some
Speaker 2: people they I mean in the United States.
Speaker 3: And this is your in tonal questions. But but you
Speaker 3: don't understand how it works.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and all the other partners that you have obviously
Speaker 1: the European partners. We're sensing the Russian assets is of
Speaker 1: course the main debate that is happening in Europe right now.
Speaker 1: There's a pattern with European leaders where at first they
Speaker 1: say no to something, whether it's tanks or some other things,
Speaker 1: then they go to maybe, then they get to yes.
Speaker 1: Right now they're on maybe for the Russian assets. Do
Speaker 1: you think they're going to get to yes? And do
Speaker 1: you have assurances from European leaders that they will deliver
Speaker 1: loans on the Russian assets.
Speaker 3: We need it very much.
Speaker 2: This is real one of the the types of real sanctions.
Speaker 2: Russia has to pay for this war. They began this
Speaker 2: war and they have to pay. This is a real fact.
Speaker 2: How they can pay. And we need this money. We
Speaker 2: will spend this money on renovation. And of course we
Speaker 2: need really we need air defense, and you know, we
Speaker 2: need air defense from.
Speaker 3: The United States and we have European systems.
Speaker 2: We need this air defense from the Europe from European leaders.
Speaker 3: This is all very important.
Speaker 2: And of course we need finance our drone production, which
Speaker 2: is huge.
Speaker 3: We need to finance it, and we don't have additional money.
Speaker 2: And this is the way and this is fair. I
Speaker 2: think they began this war and they want to continue.
Speaker 2: That's why they have to pay.
Speaker 1: Is this the most significant thing European leaders can do
Speaker 1: right now?
Speaker 2: Of course we can get more than one hundred forty
Speaker 2: villains for today. We can get it, by the way
Speaker 2: from the United States. It will be also good saying,
Speaker 2: you know, like with energy, like sanctions of the White
Speaker 2: House of President. Yes, it's about Louk Oil and Ross
Speaker 2: Ross and local important step and it brought some other
Speaker 2: our partners, European planners also to some strong decisions, and
Speaker 2: we've been happy that they have been nineteen spackage.
Speaker 3: We're thankful to Europeans for this.
Speaker 2: So that's why if President Trump, for example, will decide
Speaker 2: that he has some five I think more than five
Speaker 2: billion he has of answers, maybe he will decide to
Speaker 2: spend this money.
Speaker 3: It will help.
Speaker 1: Have you discussed alternatives with allies about Russian assets? If
Speaker 1: that does not come through, is there an alternative plan?
Speaker 1: Is there plan B?
Speaker 2: No, they understand that we need their support and if
Speaker 2: I hope God blessed, we will get this decision.
Speaker 3: But they will not have this decision.
Speaker 2: Of course, we together will find out we have to
Speaker 2: find althornamty is the question of our surviving. That's why
Speaker 2: we need it very much. And I count on partners.
Speaker 1: And on the question of you brought down Trump in
Speaker 1: connection to the Europeans, why did it take Donald Trump
Speaker 1: to get the Europeans to ban Russian energy?
Speaker 2: He always said that he wants Europe to put sanctions
Speaker 2: on Russian energy. He always said that that was during
Speaker 2: our meeting and then etc.
Speaker 3: And you know that some countries in Europe they really
Speaker 3: used it. Yes, it was not the case of one year.
Speaker 2: In the case of I think about thirty years, they
Speaker 2: had relations and a lot of different factory they.
Speaker 3: Have common businesses. It's understandable.
Speaker 2: And then President of the United States that he that okay,
Speaker 2: I'm ready and if Europe will be ready. And of
Speaker 2: course this decision, this way of sanctions was good. As
Speaker 2: I said to you that it was American sanctions and
Speaker 2: European sanctions. It like split and they came together, and
Speaker 2: I think.
Speaker 3: This is good way. It was good way.
Speaker 2: And that's the same about as That's why I raised
Speaker 2: it about asset, that there are some assets in the
Speaker 2: United States.
Speaker 3: If the United States can.
Speaker 2: Do it, it will be helpful for European decisions also and.
Speaker 1: On the assets, is there an alternative plan? So potentially,
Speaker 1: let's say the EU can't agree on twenty seven, let's
Speaker 1: say it's twenty five, and then maybe there's a partnership
Speaker 1: with Canada or other nations that did you see that
Speaker 1: as an alternative path for the Russian assets To back that, we.
Speaker 2: Have bilateral security documents between US and twenty eight maybe
Speaker 2: twenty nine for today partners. We have bilateral documents, security
Speaker 2: document which gives us possibility to count on each year
Speaker 2: financial support. For example, we have good document with Canada.
Speaker 2: You said about Canada. We have good document with Canada.
Speaker 2: We have good document with the United States. We have
Speaker 2: very good documents with other for example North European parts
Speaker 2: and Germany, and really we can count on their money.
Speaker 2: For example, you know that Germany is one of the
Speaker 2: biggest that is in the world and the biggest in Europe.
Speaker 3: And of course we count on this document.
Speaker 2: It's not alternative, but this, I mean, this is good
Speaker 2: how to say pill, This is a good pill.
Speaker 1: And in terms of energy, the Russians have been targeting
Speaker 1: more and more your energy infrastructure, your gas infrastructure as well.
Speaker 1: You're heading into the winter, get another winter of the war.
Speaker 1: Very difficult situation. Can you tell us what the situation
Speaker 1: is going to be for energy in the coming months for.
Speaker 2: Ukraine two, we have really a difficult situation and we
Speaker 2: have to go through this winter.
Speaker 3: It's not the first winter, by the way.
Speaker 2: But they, of course they increase the number of attacks
Speaker 2: by drawnes. Can you imagine they use Iranian drones. Can
Speaker 2: you imagine how many druns they use. They use, five
Speaker 2: hundred they use they can use six hundred, seven hundred,
Speaker 2: they used ones already of eight hundred drowns for per
Speaker 2: d plus ballistic and cruise missiles. And it's such combination,
Speaker 2: of course. Yes, but we we have what we have.
Speaker 2: We have air defense, we have our production of drawns,
Speaker 2: we have drawns interceptors, we have our systems of electronic
Speaker 2: or fear a lot. I mean it's about hundreds for today,
Speaker 2: and it's our production. So we of course and our.
Speaker 3: People and our people from energy and they
Speaker 2: Which work on the fields, and that's why this is
Speaker 2: very important.