Zelenskyj vows to rebuild
Kyiv is demanding Russian reparations
3/3/2022 12:52 p.m
The war damage in Ukraine is already great. Further destruction is to be feared. But President Zelenskyj promises complete reconstruction. He demands reparations from Russia. At the same time he speaks in a video message about the international legion.
Before the new planned negotiations with Russia, the Ukrainian leadership has demanded compensation for war damage. “You will compensate us for everything you did to Ukraine. In full,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video message published Thursday. Addressing Russia, Zelenskyy emphasized: “Learn the words reparations and contributions.” Kyiv plans to rebuild every house, every street, every city. None of the dead will be forgotten.
Zelenskyy said the planned international legion should have a size of 16,000 fighters. The first volunteers from abroad have already arrived. “They come to defend freedom, life. For us, for all of us,” said the head of state. The 44-year-old has issued a decree guaranteeing all voluntary fighters from abroad visa-free entry. In addition, Selenskyj spoke about the renewed arms deliveries, which also come from Germany: “Ukraine receives arms from our partners every day. From real friends. Every day more and more powerful weapons.”
Russia’s attack on Ukraine began a week ago. According to the UN, more than 140 civilians have been killed since then, and Ukraine speaks of more than 2,000. The Russian army put its own losses at around 500 dead, while Zelenskyj spoke of 9,000 Russian soldiers killed. The Ukrainian armed forces have so far given no information on their own losses. On Thursday night, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the Russian army had taken the first major city, the port city of Cherson in southern Ukraine.