‘No Safe Place’: Zelensky Warns of Global War if Russia Isn’t Stopped

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview on American television, warned that the war could extend beyond Ukraine’s borders, saying this is what Russian leader Vladimir Putin ultimately wants – revival of the Russian Empire.

Russian aggression risks escalating the globe into a World War, Zelensky said in his Sunday interview with 60 Minutes.

“There will be no safe place, no safe place for anyone,” Zelensky warned.

The interview with CBS television network journalists was recorded in Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.

There, the president visited a playground next to where, on April 4, a Russian ballistic missile had struck.

The playground had become a makeshift memorial of stuffed animals, toys, and flowers for the 19 people killed in the attack, among whom were nine children and teenagers between the ages of three and 17.

Kyiv Post summarizes some of the president’s key statements:

Daily strikes rising toll: Ukraine pays the highest price

Ukraine is paying the highest price in Russia’s war, as Russian forces continue daily strikes on Ukrainian cities, Zelensky said.

In response to a question about the Kryvyi Rih missile attack, the president condemned Russian strikes on civilians.

“This means we cannot trust Russia. We cannot trust negotiations with Russia,” he said.

Since February 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, over 1,700 attacks on schools have been recorded, more than 600 children have been killed, and 780 medical facilities have been struck, 60 Minutes reported.

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“Our people are paying the highest price imaginable. There is no higher price. We have given all our money – everything we have financially. But most importantly, we have given the lives of our people,” Zelensky said.

The interview aired the day after a deadly Russian strike on the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, April 13, which killed 34 people, including two children, and injured 117 others, among them 15 children.

Russian propaganda’s reach into US politics

Zelensky also addressed the “dominating” impact of Russian propaganda on US political discourse.

He recalled statements by current US President Donald Trump, who, at one point, claimed that Ukraine started the war and referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections.”

“Unfortunately, I believe Russian narratives are dominating in the US. How can anyone witness our losses and suffering, understand what the Russians are doing, and still believe they are not the aggressors? That they didn’t start this war? This shows how deeply Russian information policy has infiltrated American politics and influenced US politicians,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky’s meeting with Trump: shock and concern

In February, Zelensky met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Following a heating exchange between the two presidents as well as US Vice President JD Vance, the Ukrainian leader said he was shocked to hear Trump equate Ukrainian victims with those of the Russian occupying forces.

“President Trump, as the strong president of a strong country, should be on Ukraine’s side. I believe it’s wrong for America to want to remain neutral,” Zelensky said.

However, the Trump administration says it’s working toward a peace agreement with Russia.

On April 12, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow—a meeting the White House described as “another step in the negotiation process toward a ceasefire and final peace agreement.”

Invitation to Trump: ‘Come see the reality’

Zelensky reiterated that America’s neutrality is unacceptable in this war. He invited Trump to visit Ukraine to see the reality firsthand:

“We respect your position, but please, before making any decisions or peace plans, come and see the people – civilians, soldiers, hospitals, churches, and the destroyed or dead children,” Zelensky said, addressing the American president.

Patriot systems still missing: Ukraine urges action

The president revealed that additional Patriot air defense systems, promised during the NATO anniversary summit in Washington, have not yet been delivered to Ukraine.

He underlined the country’s urgent need to bolster its air defenses and expressed readiness to purchase the systems from the US, despite the high cost – about $1.5 billion per unit.

“We don’t have enough air defense systems. I’m grateful to all partners for what we’ve already received. But when missiles are killing children and adults – every life matters. Honestly, I don’t understand why we can’t secure additional Patriot systems, especially when such an agreement was reached at the Washington summit. And we still haven’t received them,” Zelensky stated.

$15 billion worth of protection still out of reach

The president said Ukraine is “ready for any format” to obtain Patriot systems.

According to Zelensky, the US position is currently that there is “no possibility” of supplying these systems to Ukraine, even though “at the same time, they are providing such systems, for example, to Israel.”

“I’m not saying Israel doesn’t need them. But if we are fair partners, can’t there be a way to protect Ukraine as well?” he added.

Based on available information, a single Patriot system currently costs about $1.5 billion, Zelensky said. In his assessment, Ukraine needs at least 10 to adequately defend key cities.