Zelenskyy: Europe's not ready for war with Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that no European country is currently ready for a war with Russia, as their populations have not been prepared for such a possibility in recent years.

Source: Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference on 17 February, answering a question from CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, reported by European Pravda

Details: Speaking about the prospects for receiving aid from the United States, which is being blocked in Congress, the president spoke about discussions with the leaders of France and Germany the day before, when bilateral security cooperation agreements were signed.

"I told them very clearly and very honestly: if you remember what happened in Ukraine in 2014, our people were not ready for war, for the rapid occupation of Crimea and part of Donbas. And then, over the course of almost eight years, people began to become ready for such aggression," he added.

"And I believe – God help us, we won't have any new attacks on you from Russia – that there is not a single country in Europe today that is ready for an invasion. Not because we are stronger or better – we are all the same. But because we have had all these years," Zelenskyy explained.

The president clarified that, psychologically and in the media, the population of European countries had not previously been prepared for the possibility of conflict. "I understand why: no one wants this," he added.

Background:

• At the same time, in recent weeks, a number of European NATO countries have stated that there is a risk of Russian aggression in the near future.
• For example, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in January that the Alliance should prepare for a Russian attack on a NATO country in 5-8 years. 
• The Swedish government stated that all citizens of the country should be prepared for war.

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