War-torn Eastern Ukraine — Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with our CBS News team at a undisclosed location, surrounded by the remnants of a bombed-out building in the far east of his country. The landscape here is littered with such destruction.
As the season transitions into spring, Zelenskyy expressed that Ukraine's forces have successfully repelled Russian advances throughout the harsh winter months.
"We have managed to stabilize the situation. It has improved compared to the conditions two or three months ago when we faced severe shortages of artillery ammunition and various weapons," he stated, "We did not witness a significant counteroffensive from Russia... They did not achieve their objectives."
"Urgent assistance needed": Zelenskyy warns of imminent Russian offensive
However, Zelenskyy also acknowledged the devastation caused by the invading Russian troops and their seemingly limitless supply of missiles and shells, which have resulted in the destruction of "several villages."
"We lacked artillery rounds and various other resources," he emphasized, highlighting that while his forces have successfully held off Russian forces thus far, they are ill-prepared to withstand another major Russian assault anticipated in the upcoming months.
Zelenskyy indicated that this offensive is anticipated to take place towards the end of May or in June.
"We must seek help now, not just prepare and stabilize the situation, as our partners are pleased with stability," emphasized Zelenskyy in reference to the U.S. and other supporters of Ukraine.
Russia currently holds the advantage in the ongoing artillery conflict, possessing both greater firepower and longer-range capabilities.
Zelenskyy highlighted the challenges faced in cities like Bakhmut, Avdivka, Lysychansk, and Soledar, where Ukrainian forces struggle against adversaries with artillery capable of reaching over 20 kilometers, while their own artillery falls short.
Accompanied by heavily armed soldiers, we accompanied Zelenskyy during his inspection of newly constructed underground bunkers in the northeastern region of Ukraine, near Sumy, just 15 miles from the Russian border.
The entire area remains on high alert due to a significant buildup of Russian troops near the border and ongoing attacks on nearby villages, Zelenskyy informed us.
"After destroying villages with artillery strikes, the enemy often attempts to occupy the area," Zelenskyy explained. "The uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring necessitates our constant preparedness."
Zelenskyy's Plea for U.S. Aid to Ukraine
Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for American Patriot missile defense systems and additional artillery to support Ukraine. Despite the gratitude for the billions of dollars in U.S. support received, he highlighted the importance of understanding the allocation of funding from the American government.
"There are still billions of dollars remaining in the U.S. Let's face it, the majority of the money allocated by Congress and the administration, around 80% or more than 75%, remains in the U.S. The ammunition may reach us, but the production occurs there, keeping the money and taxes within the U.S.," he explained.
While acknowledging the ongoing partisan gridlock in the U.S. over a $60 billion aid package, Zelenskyy recognized that the focus on the conflict in Gaza had diverted global attention and aid away from Ukraine.
"The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has understandably shifted the spotlight away from Ukraine. When attention is drawn to other regions, it benefits Russia," he lamented.
The World's Attention Shifts Amidst Ukraine-Russia Conflict
President Vladimir Putin has been taking advantage of the shift in the world's attention, according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Putin recently accused Ukraine of supporting a terrorist attack near Moscow that claimed the lives of 139 people on March 22, despite ISIS claiming responsibility for the incident. U.S. officials have supported ISIS's claim.
Zelenskyy dismissed Putin's accusations as "ridiculous," emphasizing that Putin is using various events to unite his society and undermine Ukraine's existence. Despite the challenges of winning the war with Putin in power, Zelenskyy believes that gradually weakening Putin through village-by-village victories is possible. He also warned that a loss for Ukraine would embolden Putin to continue his aggressive actions.
Russia's war "can come to Europe, and to the United States"
"For him, we are a satellite of Russian Federation. At the moment, it's us, then Kazakhstan, then Baltic states, then Poland, then Germany. At least half of Germany," he said, reiterating a warning over what he sees as Putin's intentions that he first issued to CBS News several years ago, before Russia's full-scale invasion even began. At that stage, Ukraine had already been fighting Russian and Russian-backed forces for years, after they pushed into the east of the country and unilaterally annexed the Crimean Peninsula.
Zelenskyy said Putin was determined to restore the former Soviet Union to its imperial glory — and its geographical borders.
"Even tomorrow, the missiles can fly to any state," the Ukrainian leader told CBS News on Wednesday. "This aggression, and Putin's army, can come to Europe, and then the citizens of the United States, the soldiers of the United States, will have to protect Europe because they're the NATO members."
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Calling Russia's invasion of his country a war "against the democracy, against the values, against the whole world," Zelenskyy said there may be some in the West who were tired of hearing the message, "but only those are tired who are not at war, who don't know what war is, and who have never lost his or her children."
"The USA is helping Ukraine and we are grateful for their support, for this multilateral support, but the United States don't have the war going on," he said. "But it can come to Europe, and to the United States of America. It can come very quickly to Europe."
"The 80s and then the end of the 90s - he will never forgive that," Zelenskyy expressed, hinting that his Russian counterpart harbors a lasting resentment over the disintegration of the pre-Cold War era. "He clings to that belief. We don't aim to alter his perspective. We aim to transform him. We need to supplant him."
