Zelensky Interview: On Threat of Russian Invasion, Talks with Biden and Confrontation with Akhmetov

Zelensky does not rule out a referendum on Ukraine's occupied territories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview to TSN, in which he said he does not rule out a referendum on occupied territories. 

The president also spoke about talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, his confrontation with oligarch Rinat Akhmetov and the threat of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

Referendum on ORDLO

President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview in which he said he does not rule out a referendum on occupied territories. According to him, the question of a nationwide vote could be the ending of the war as a whole.

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

I do not rule out a referendum on Donbas as a whole. And the issue here is not the status. It could be about Donbas, about Crimea... It could be about ending the war as a whole. 

He also clarified that Ukraine will certainly not give up its territories.

On the threat of a Russian attack

Zelensky also spoke about the details of his conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden. According to him, during previous talks, Vladimir Putin assured the head of the White House that Russia would not attack Ukraine.

However, Zelensky added that even the slightest invasion would bring serious sanctions against Russia.

He said the United States is interested in joining negotiations to settle the conflict in Donbas. However, the issue is not the Normandy format, but a new platform, the creation of which was discussed by the leaders of the two countries.

Akhmetov's “coup”

Zelensky said that the people who were preparing a “coup” in Ukraine have not changed their plans. 

He added that the authorities received information about internal destabilization from the United States. According to the president, the partners spoke with the “organizers”.

Zelensky expressed satisfaction that Ukrainian society did not support the destabilizing steps of “certain groups”.

“I am very happy that these groups have seen that society does not support them. But we are monitoring the situation very closely,” the president assured.

Zelensky answered a question about whether he would negotiate with “one oligarch,” alluding to Rinat Akhmetov .

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

The course of history must change. They need to negotiate with the state, not (with the state — ed.) with oligarchs. And negotiating with the state is very simple. The state sets out its agreements in laws, and there everything is clear about how a person or business should act and work.

Biden did not propose direct talks with terrorists

During Zelensky's conversation with Biden, there was no discussion of the possibility of direct talks between the head of the Ukrainian state and separatists in Donbas, about which American media had previously warned.

“No. He did not offer me that. I will be frank — that was not discussed at all in principle,” the president said.