Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to NHK's independent interview for the first time in the Japanese media on the 24th, three months after the start of the Russian military invasion.
The full text is below.
Q It has been three months since the invasion by Russia began.
How do you see the current battle situation?
The early days of the invasion were the most difficult situation.
The world believed that Ukraine would be occupied by Russia in three days.
On the other hand, some countries in the world believed that we were ready to resist Russia.
I am grateful to them.
However, three months have passed, not three days or thirty days.
Far from occupying our land, Russia has begun to step back.
Thanks to the fact that the world is centered around Ukraine, sanctions on Russia are beginning to take effect.
Q How do you see Japan's support for Ukraine?
I had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kishida four or five times.
Japan has provided clear, frank, substantive and full support for Ukraine.
This is very important.
Japan was looking for a balance between Russia and Ukraine.
Despite the complex situation with Russia, Japan's attitude was straightforward and straightforward.
I am grateful to the Japanese government and the people.
But Ukraine still needs help to free its citizens.
Unblock the city and deliver food, drinking water and medicine to people.
This is very important for resolving the humanitarian crisis.
Also, because the waters near the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are blocked, it is no longer possible to export grains such as corn.
This is very important not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe, Asia and Africa.
They need grain.
We have 22 million tonnes of grain, which is disturbed by Russia.
Weapons are needed to unlock the blocked waters.
We need anti-ship missiles in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Japan, and we look forward to the support of the Japanese government.
Q Japan has clarified its support for Ukraine, but how important is it to have Asian countries on your side?
This is very important to us.
What Russia is doing in Ukraine is the occupation of foreign territories, looting, torture of inhabitants, genocide, disruption of important industries, destruction of nuclear power plants and infrastructure, if this is allowed, Russia. Not only that, but other countries that are thinking of attacking or occupying will be allowed to do so.
And it will be like a detonator to occupy the world.
That is why the support of Asian democracies is so important to Ukraine.
Q What are your thoughts on the movement of China, which has a close relationship with Russia?
It is not desirable for China to unite with Russia.
I think Japan understands this very well.
Therefore, I think that the quad meeting, which is the framework of the four countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India, is very important.
Such a summit will undoubtedly show the unity of allies and serve to signal other countries.
Such cohesion works and shows the strength of the whole world.
Q What does Ukraine's "victory" mean?
For all Ukrainians, victory has only one meaning.
To regain our territory.
Both the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbus region are our territories.
But that would come at a cost.
First of all, I would like to return to the state before February 24th.
Then I would like to go to the negotiating table again to discuss peace, the end of the war, and the return of the territory.
Q Is it difficult to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia now?
In the current situation, we are not interested in a simple ceasefire.
And the Russian side has not offered a ceasefire either.
If they are in the occupied Kherson, Zaporizhia, or Donbus, what does the ceasefire mean?
What does the ceasefire bring to us?
If we agreed to a ceasefire, it would only be like the Donbus region before February 24th.
I don't want such negotiations.
Of course it is possible to accept a ceasefire to interact with President Putin.
Because you can't meet without a ceasefire.
I think a few days of ceasefire is enough.
I think it's very important to get a meeting, a dialogue, and something clear.
Q Do you think President Putin will use chemical or nuclear weapons against Ukraine?
I think it's a question not only for Ukraine, but for the world.
And to be precise, you should ask:
"Do you think Putin will use chemical and nuclear weapons against the world, starting with Ukraine?"
And what we should think about here is what weapons he has used so far.
He is already using a banned weapon.
This is the answer.
Whether or not those who are already using banned weapons can go further.
Q Has the red line for the United States and NATO been crossed?
I think NATO has made the wrong decision since the first day of our war.
If Ukraine had joined NATO, there would have been no Russian attacks.
From day one, more than 2000 missiles were launched not only at the military, but also at civilians and infrastructure.
It wouldn't be possible if you were in NATO.
At least it wouldn't have been possible if the no-fly zone had been set and the sky was closed.
I think this was a big mistake in the history of the world.
NATO is for world security, not just in the circle of some countries somewhere in the world.
Poland and the three Baltic states are members of NATO.
And Ukraine, which borders on the border, is not in NATO.
The Ukrainian war is also a war on the border between Poland and the Baltic states.
NATO is not closing the sky.
If it closes, it will be a large-scale war and an army will have to be sent.
And they aren't ready to fight and aren't ready to die.
For example, tomorrow there may be a war in Lithuania and Russia coming.
They are already increasing pressure through Belarus in the wake of immigration issues.
They have already shown that they can cross the border illegally without permission.
And the battle will take place.
What would you do then?
Russia crossed all red lines in 2014.
Europe does not understand that Russia's war and occupation go against the unification of Europe.
It just started in Ukraine, but if it doesn't end in Ukraine, it could happen anywhere.
Russian leaders have their own worldview.
They want a scenario in which Russia involves Ukraine and Europe.
Q What are the key points of Ukraine's media strategy?
The strategy is very simple, showing the reality that is happening in our country and what Russia is doing without exaggerating or making it look small.
For a long time, there was a lot of Russian media in Ukraine.
They disseminate false information on a daily basis and distort the facts.
I think the information should be reliable by the Ukrainian media.
The media is using it quite powerfully to show what is happening in the world.
Q Are you satisfied with the International Criminal Court's efforts to deal with Russian war crimes?
It is important for us that the international community has fully supported Ukraine.
It is for us that Ukraine also participates in the investigation by overseas experts including Japan, and when the decision of the International Criminal Court is issued, not only Ukraine but the whole world declares "what Russia has done". It's very important.
Russia will be held accountable for both military and political leaders.
The person who ordered it, the person who executed it, everything.
Q Please give a message to Japan.
I would like to thank the Japanese people.
As already mentioned, it has helped us preserve our sovereignty and territory, rather than seeking a balance between Ukraine and Russia.
We are fighting for freedom, for independence.
Our freedom is also your freedom.
We feel that there is a unity among the Japanese people.
After the war, I would like to meet with Prime Minister Kishida and thank him for all his spiritual support.
Thank you very much.