President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to journalists about the process of returning the bodies of soldiers, exchanges, the NATO summit, and other diplomatic processes.
The head of state also paid special attention to the situation at the front, naming the number of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and the hot spots.
ICTV Facts collected the main points from Zelensky’s statements during his conversation with media representatives.
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Return of the bodies of the soldiers
At the beginning of his conversation with journalists, Zelensky spoke about repatriation. He said that Russia handed over to Ukraine about 20 bodies of Russian soldiers, passing them off as Ukrainian. Some of the bodies even had Russian passports.
“It has already been recorded during the repatriation that the bodies of 20 people handed over to us as our dead soldiers are ‘Russians’,” the head of state said.
He emphasized that this is part of a deliberate strategy by the Russian Federation, indicating non-compliance with agreements. Moreover, such facts are repeated, so they are not accidental.
“We believe that they are doing this on purpose. To show how many alleged Ukrainian bodies they have… That is, to destroy the reality in which we exist, where many more of them die,” the president added.
Exchanges and negotiations
Zelensky noted that meetings with Ukraine without US participation and exchanges to the Kremlin's advantage in order to tear the US away from Ukraine and reduce aid.
— To do this, we need to demonstrate diplomacy. Diplomacy is demonstrated by the possibility of meeting with the Ukrainian side, preferably without America. How can we end the meeting on a positive note? With exchanges. To do this, we need an appropriate number of exchanges, — Zelensky noted.
He also added that if more meetings were held, it would demonstrate to the US that the diplomatic process was ongoing, as a result of which sanctions could be postponed.
“And while the exchanges continue, the meetings at the level of leaders will also be postponed. Because it is definitely not beneficial for them,” the president added.
In addition, he said that in the Dnieper region the enemy is attempting to break through, four sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been recorded. The enemy is not having success.
Situation at the front
The head of state announced how many Russian soldiers are fighting on the front – 695 thousand.
— Today, there are 695 thousand Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine. Plus the Kursk and Belgorod directions. I mean where they are opposite Kharkov, opposite Sumy. That is, there is also a corresponding number of people from the Sumy direction, approximately 52 thousand, — he said.
Zelensky, speaking to journalists, said that in the Sumy direction, the Russian Federation carries out about 23% of all strikes daily, and on average, up to 200 assaults per day are recorded along the entire front line.
According to the head of state, the enemy advanced 200 meters in a week, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces pushed them back to 200-400 meters. He reported that the situation in the Kharkov, Volchansk, Limansk, Pokrovsk directions is stable, but tense – the enemy is attacking without result.
In addition, he said that in the Dnieper region, the enemy has four sabotage and reconnaissance group members trying to break through – so far without success.
Air Defense and Drones
About 1/3 of Shahed drones are shot down by mobile fire groups with interceptors, which are already being manufactured by four Ukrainian companies, Zelensky noted. In addition, he denied information about the destruction of Petriots during massive Russian strikes.
— First, regarding the Petriots, I want to refute the information — as a result of these massive strikes, not a single Petriot system was destroyed or damaged. What was thrown into the media somewhere is not true, — he added.
During the latest attack, dozens of UAVs were intercepted, the president noted.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine will open production of drones and missiles in Europe as part of the Build with Ukraine program.
“We have launched the Build with Ukraine program, and in the summer we will sign the relevant agreements on the start of exporting our technologies abroad in the format of opening production lines in European countries and, perhaps, beyond,” Zelensky said.
According to him, our state is negotiating with Germany and Canada regarding financing large-scale production, the head of state reported.
Also, according to him, negotiations on opening defense production are underway with Denmark, Norway, Great Britain, and there is, in addition, a positive signal from Lithuania.
Diplomacy: The US and Sanctions
Zelensky stressed the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia – in the energy, technology and financial sectors – and to intensify international technological cooperation.
In addition, Zelensky stressed the importance of imposing sanctions on foreign companies that help Russia manufacture weapons.
— The Russian Federation receives machine tools from some countries — machine tools that they use to produce weapons. In the near future, they want to receive 860 additional machine tools for their defense industry, — he said.
According to him, there are even names of these companies, so Ukraine has transferred all this information to all countries, our partners.
“We kindly ask that sanctions be imposed on all of these companies,” Zelensky emphasized.
The President addressed the head of the United States, Donald Trump, calling on him to make a “historically correct choice” and not to conclude deals with the Russian Federation, since “the aggressor always loses.”
– Putin really wants us to be without America. For President Trump, the Israel-Iran issue is certainly a higher priority today. The “Russians” will not be able to really support Iran, because they have no strength. But they will pretend that they are trying. And this is also a sign, I think, to President Trump. And I really don't want him to negotiate with the “Russians” against this background, not in our favor, – he added.
He said that the economic bloc of Ukraine and the United States is discussing the minerals issue and a new military aid package, including Patriot systems.
Ukraine calls on partners to allocate 0.25% of GDP to support Ukraine's defense industry, Zelensky said.
NATO summit and meeting with Trump
Zelensky noted that his trip to the NATO summit does not depend on whether he will meet with Trump.
— My trip does not depend on whether there will be a meeting with Trump. Firstly, I am not sure that I will go, but still the probability is high. I certainly want to hold several meetings. And there are corresponding invitations from the king (of the Netherlands, — Ed. ) and from the prime minister (Dick Schoff, — Ed. ). We have a very good relationship with him. And he provides great support. I think the third largest in Europe, — he added.
Zelensky added that there is a trilateral proposal involving NATO, the EU and Ukraine. In addition, separate meetings of NATO foreign ministers and defense ministers together with Ukraine are already planned on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
