Zelensky accuses Russian forces of 'genocide' in Ukraine
In an interview to be broadcast later Sunday in the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian forces of committing "genocide" in Ukraine.
"This is genocide," he told CBS, according to excerpts from the interview.
The abolition of the entire nation and the people.”
We are the citizens of Ukraine.
We have more than a hundred nationalities.
This means the destruction and extermination of all these nationalities.”
“We are citizens of Ukraine and do not want to be subject to the policy of the Russian Federation.
This is the reason for our destruction and extermination.”
"This is happening in Europe in the twenty-first century," he added, condemning "the torture of the entire nation."
Earlier, Ukraine accused the Russian army of committing a "deliberate massacre" of civilians in the city of Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, in addition to other "atrocities" in the "liberated" areas.
While European and American officials said that the perpetrators of the atrocities must be held accountable, the Ukrainian president stressed that he "believes in justice", but considered that there is no sufficient punishment for such acts.
"I don't know what law or prison sentence would be appropriate for this," he added.
As a father of two children and a president, I think if he puts these people behind bars, it would be very little for what they did.”
Nevertheless, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he was ready for dialogue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
"After all this, it is hard to imagine that we can still conduct negotiations with Russia," he said.
But on a personal level: As president, it is my duty to do so.”
He stressed that "there is no other way out than dialogue, if you do not want hundreds of thousands and millions of dead."
But he stressed that a summit with President Putin can only be held after "a ceasefire... I can't even hold a meeting as long as they continue the bombing."
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