“We’re not winning – but explain that to him”: Anonymous Zelensky employee provides dark insight

FR “We’re not winning – but explain that to him”: Anonymous Zelensky employee provides dark insight Article by Bettina Menzel • 1 H. Ukraine war “We’re not winning – but explain that to him”: Anonymous Zelensky employee provides dark insight Despite the faltering counteroffensive, Ukrainian President Zelensky remains unshakably confident of victory over Russia. But he also evidently senses the West's war weariness. Washington, DC – Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian aggression for over 600 days. After 20 weeks of war in Ukraine, there is quiet talk in the West about war weariness. Military support appears to be waning - although Kiev's troops on the front lines are also defending Europe's freedom. In an impressive interview with the US magazine Time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj described how he felt about the debate. An employee of the president reported anonymously from behind the scenes. For Europe and the USA, the Ukraine war seems like the “tenth repetition” of a show The Ukrainian counteroffensive is not progressing as planned: 17 kilometers were gained in five months, and around a fifth of the country is still under Russian control. In the USA, the commitment to further military aid is in limbo due to internal squabbles over the budget and the terror against Israel is attracting a lot of attention. It is apparently becoming increasingly difficult for Ukrainian President Zelensky to secure the support of his Western partners. “You give money. We give our lives,” Zelenskyj said at the end of September during his most recent visit to Washington, but aid from the USA has recently stalled. The President of Ukraine noticed a “wave of war fatigue,” as he said at the end of September in an interview with the US magazine Time, published on Monday (October 30). “The most frightening thing is that part of the world has become accustomed to the war in Ukraine.” The public sees the war like a show and “doesn’t want to watch this repetition for the tenth time,” commented Zelensky. “Nobody believes in our victory as much as I do,” the president continued. “Nobody.” Awakening this belief among his allies requires all of his strength. Ukraine war: Zelensky employee reports that the president feels betrayed by the West 20 months of war have not left their mark on the Ukrainian president, who bears the responsibility for the defense of his country on his shoulders. Zelensky feels betrayed by his Western allies, one of the Ukrainian president's aides said under the cover of anonymity, as a background investigation by Time magazine on site in Kiev revealed. However, anonymous statements cannot be verified and should therefore be treated with caution. Western partners did not give Ukraine the means to win, only the means to survive the war, the anonymous employee said. Although the president's ease suffered during the war, his convictions did not. Despite the recent military setbacks, Zelensky firmly believes in Ukraine's victory over Russia. When it comes to this, Zelensky is “unwavering,” it borders on the “messianic,” said one of the president’s closest aides, according to Time, and then gave a gloomy outlook: “He’s kidding himself. We're out of options. We won't win. But try telling him that.” Zelensky's stubbornness about winning also hurt the development of a new strategy, the employee said. The information could not be independently verified. Zelensky warns of a third world war if Russia is not stopped In an interview with Time magazine, Zelensky warned that the war would continue to spread if Russia was not stopped. “A third world war could begin in Ukraine, continue in Israel, move from there to Asia and then explode somewhere else.” The war in Ukraine is also a war of will, said Zelensky. Will alone is apparently not enough, as can be seen from recent statements by Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zalushny. He assumes that Russia would have the upper hand in a long war. The population is three times larger and the economy is ten times larger, Saluschny said in an interview with the Economist. “Let’s face it, it’s a feudal state where the cheapest resource is a human life.” Disobedience at the front? Zelensky fires special forces commander Meanwhile, Time also reported on disruptions in the Ukrainian troops. A few commanders at the front had resisted orders to advance, it was said. Even if they were direct announcements from the president. "They just want to sit in the trenches."