(16 Jun 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vienna, Austria – 16 June 2025
1. Wide President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen
2. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine:
"We are doing everything possible to end the war. The steps are completely understandable: first, complete and unconditional ceasefire; then real and honest diplomacy, and as a result, guaranteed lasting security. Now we don’t have all this. We don’t have this because of Russia. All the efforts of the world for the sake of peace are ruined because of the unwillingness of Russia to end this war. And that’s why we need pressure on Moscow. The strong pressure that is really felt in order to stop deaths, to stop losses."
3. Mid of presser
4. SOUNDBITE(Ukrainian) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine:
"One of the issues that I will discuss with President Trump at the meeting is the defense package that Ukraine is ready to buy. I am sure that we will have such an opportunity. At least I am counting on it. I think that Europe must think what Minister Pistorius (Boris Pistorius, Defense Minister of Germany) said. I believe that we should all work to ensure that the union between America and Europe does not fall apart. And we are all interested in this. I think, the continent is still more or less safe, and such a union (between Europe and US) will not be easily threatened by anyone, not even Russia."
5. Mid of presser
6. SOUNDBITE(Ukrainian) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine:
"You cannot exchange children; they are not prisoners of war. This is impossible. We don’t exchange them for anything, it is absolutely unfair, frankly, it is difficult to find the word to describe what Russians have proposed that we give them military and they give us children. This is beyond comprehension, beyond international law, and, frankly, in line with their usual behavior, that’s why we need to bring back the children. And here we need diplomacy and a relationship on the bilateral level with the Russians, or the leader, or that or that state. That’s the reason why we are involving many countries, we need so many people with initiative who will help bring back thousands of children who have been stolen by Russia."
7. Mid Zelenskyy and Van der Bellen leaving
STORYLINE:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was "doing everything possible to end the war" but that "all the efforts of the world for the sake of peace are ruined because of the unwillingness of Russia."
Speaking after meeting the President and Chancellor of Austria, Zelenskyy also said that leaders "should all work to ensure that the union between America and Europe does not fall apart."
Zelenskyy met with his Austrian counterpart a day before he’s expected to press U.S. President Donald Trump for more military support in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
Zelenskyy is expected to attend the G7 summit that opens Monday in Canada, alongside Trump and other leaders of rich Western powers, and said one of the topics up for discussion would be a defense package that Ukraine is ready to buy from the United States.
In Vienna, Zelenskyy also alluded to talks over possible prisoner exchanges with Russia. He said that Russian negotiators at one point had suggested exchanging Ukrainian children for captured Russian soldiers, which he called “madness.”
“This is beyond comprehension, beyond international law, and, frankly, in line with (Russia’s) usual behavior,” Zelenskyy said.
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7bf04d1696114ef4903370cad8eaa3ec
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in June 21, 2025, 6:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
