Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has declared a new state of siege. The current martial law expires on May 20 and Zelensky thinks the war will continue for some time. The end of the war is therefore not yet in sight, but according to Europe reporter Geert Jan Hahn, Zelenski says winning means “Ukraine will become the safest country in the world”.
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Zelensky finds it difficult to answer the question “what is winning?” answer. According to Hahn, the Ukrainian president is opening a number of open doors in answering this question. ‘Justice must prevail, so all criminals must appear before a criminal court or tribunal. Furthermore, Zelensky wants Ukraine to recapture all areas and a security guarantee to be signed.’
Security guarantee
That security guarantee must be signed by “powerful countries that Ukraine can rely on.” According to Hahn, for example, Western partners and not countries like China and Russia should be considered. “It doesn’t matter to Zelensky if that security guarantee is implemented in a NATO context. This is an important statement to remember ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania this summer,” says Hahn.
“The best thing that can happen now is for Ukraine to be helped by the West to win the war”
“Former general James Cowan has given a different definition of victory in Kiev,” says Europe’s reporter. Cowan said, among other things, that it’s about everything ways AND it means. According to Hahn, this means that if Ukraine is to regain its territories, the goal must match the means available. ‘If those resources are not made available, then the ways AND it means Not. In other words, the best that can happen now is for Ukraine to be helped by the West to win the war.’
Horror stories
Meanwhile, the moment has not yet come and the fierce battle continues along the front lines. Since Zelensky has declared a new state of siege, Ukrainian men between the ages of eighteen and sixty will not be able to leave the country for the next fifteen months. ‘Men flee because of the horror stories they hear, others have their cases packed because they know they will be summoned at any moment. Still others in a vital profession – for example in politics or information technology – are less likely to be mobilised.’
“Ukrainian society is noticeably upset”
According to Hahn, Ukrainian society was significantly shocked by the mobilization. “Demographically, there are already more women than men in the country and this gap is probably getting bigger,” says the European journalist. Some 120,000 Ukrainians are said to have been wounded and killed during the war. The Pentagon says the Russian side has already lost about 80,000 wounded and 200,000 dead.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
