With Russian soldiers advancing in the east and winter approaching, how does Ukraine's president view the country's future? What hopes does he harbor? Volodymyr Zelenskyj is noticeably irritated and frustrated as he responds to TT's question during a smaller press conference in Reykjavik, in connection with the Nordic Council of Ministers' meeting there, the week before the American presidential election.
Many agreements have been made with Ukrainian partners, and everyone must do their job, says Zelenskyj.
That's how the rules of war work. You have to trust that specific things will happen at a certain time. Otherwise, you can't handle the situation. You can't hold the front lines, you can't defend the people, you can't prepare for winter.
Half the capacity
Ukraine's energy system is severely damaged after nearly three years of Russian attacks, which during the winter months have targeted the country's power supply. Around half of the country's energy capacity is now out of commission, according to Ukrainian sources.
At a NATO summit in Washington in July this year, the USA announced that it would donate the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine ahead of winter. According to Zelenskyj, the agreement was that the systems would be delivered before the start of school in early September.
If you haven't received what was promised by now. If you haven't received and can't trust that this major air defense support will come during the heating season, which has already begun in Ukraine – I mean, what can you do?
You got their word that they will support you, and you trust it because you understand that these systems will save lives, save schools, save fuel depots. That's the problem.
"It's just about surviving"
The president says further that Ukraine has only received ten percent of a support package that was voted through in Congress in the USA earlier this year.
You do your job. You count on reserves, you count on special brigades, you count on special equipment. And then you get ten percent of the package that has already been voted through... It's not fun.
It's not about money. It's always a question of bureaucracy or logistics.
He is not only frustrated about the delayed support. The president is also tired of asking for one thing – and getting another. When he wanted to discuss membership in NATO at the summit in Washington last summer, he went away with air defense systems instead.
You can't compare those things. But in wartime, you say yes and thank for the help and make sure to maintain unity.
Back home in Ukraine, people are bracing themselves for yet another winter in unheated apartments with constant power outages and attacks.
You ask what we should do. It's just about surviving. Living. Fighting, says Zelenskyj.
