Putin Sees Himself In Power By 2030, We Would Like To Finish With Him Sooner: Ukrainian Prez Zelenskyy

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday claimed that plans for Kyiv's highly anticipated counteroffensive last year had been compromised and leaked to Russia prior to their execution. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, he said, "Our counteroffensive action plans were on the Kremlin's table before the counteroffensive actions began." He also added that his military chiefs were preparing "several plans" for this year's battlefield strategy "because of information leaks", reported AFP.</p> <p>According to AFP, the Ukrainian President emphasised the crucial role of Western support for his country's victory, stating that its success "depends" on such backing. He expressed confidence that the United States would approve a crucial package of military aid.</p> <p>Additionally, Zelenskyy also said that in a rare admission of military losses, 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had lost their lives in the two years of conflict with Russia.</p> <p>"Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world," AFP quoted Zelenskyy as saying.</p> <p>Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv commemorating the second anniversary of Russia's invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the challenges facing Ukraine, including a shortage of ammunition and the delay in receiving US aid due to congressional blocking.</p> <p>He remarked as per AFP, "There is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive, otherwise I do not understand the world we will start to live in."</p> <p>The aid delay has been attributed to resistance from Republicans, adding to the challenges faced by Ukraine. Zelenskyy's revelation of the military losses, quantifying them at 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers, counters exaggerated figures propagated by Russian authorities, as per AFP.</p> <p>"Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us," he added. Both sides are believed to minimise deaths of troops, reported AFP.</p> <p><a href="https://ift.tt/I013N8Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ALSO READ| 'US Voters Should Have Real Choice, Not Soviet-Style Election': Nikki Haley After Trump Trounces Her In Home State</strong></a></p> <h3><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>'Can You Talk To A Deaf Person': Zelenskyy Jibes At Putin</strong></span></h3> <p>Asked if he would talk to Putin, Zelenskyy said: "Can you talk to a deaf person? Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?" Putin's main opponent Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison this month.</p> <p>In response to Putin's aspirations to maintain power until 2030, Zelenskyy expressed a desire to expedite Putin's departure from office, saying, "He sees himself (in power) by 2030, we would like to finish with him sooner," Zelenskyy added, mocking an upcoming presidential election in Russia that is likely to extend Putin's long rule until 2030, as per AFP.</p>

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