The revelations of more mass graves and potential Russian war crimes
have horrified many a new and revolting seen in an already brutal
war. It is now nearly seven months since Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
whose forces are running an effective counter offensive in the East
and the South. Nick Schifrin is finishing two weeks of reporting
in the country.
And he sat down this morning with Ukraine's Foreign minister, Metro
Colaba.
Mr Foreign Minister. Thank you very much. Welcome to the news hour.
We have spent the last week in Harkin where we've got the villages
and towns liberated from Russian occupation For the last six months,
And we've met a woman who had to witness the exclamation of her own
son, who was tortured and murdered by Russian soldiers. We visited
a room that Russian occupiers used for torture. And now
Police in his zoom have announced a mass grave before 100 soldiers
and civilians.
Can you talk?
To Russia diplomatically when its soldiers are committing the crimes
that we see.
Very painful question to ask because it's a diplomat, I have to be
ready to talk even with the devil.
If the national interests of my country requires so
But I almost so a human being. And the last thing that I want to
do is to talk to them. After everything Russia has done and it has
become apparent that war crimes and atrocities always follow the
Russian army. After seeing all of that I have a strong feeling that
the best
Negotiating table.
With Russia is the battlefield.
But again, this is two parts of me fighting each other, struggling
with each other inside of me.
Of course, I know how to
Take emotions under control. And if I
Face and it to engage in serious negotiations. I will
But I do not see any interest or any indicators from Russia that
they are seeking serious negotiations for many reasons.
Look at the latest missile attack by Russia on the river dam
outside Corey, the president's hometown. Absolutely it had no military
objective.
It was a deliberate attack on a piece of critical infrastructure,
with only one aim to cause floods.
And must death of civilians. So when a country behaves like this
You know, the corridor for negotiations is basically closing. The
battlefield is dynamic, and the US certainly wants to give you the
most progress militarily so that you have the best position at the
bargaining table or the gains that you've had in heart Kiev enough
in order to consider negotiations just from those games you've had
already
Definitely not the moment we will hear from President Putin of someone
from his entourage that they want to engage in talks. We shouldn't
rush to respond positively to eat. First. We have to answer a question.
Why all of a sudden Russia is seeking negotiations, Maybe because
it is in a condition.
When it cannot defend its gains militarily.
So we tries to buy time.
And defend these gains diplomatically. Russia been reaching out to
Kiev formally and informally throughout this process.
But if this is the case if they call for negotiations when, at the
moment of their highest weakness
Then why should we be interested in negotiating with them?
Definitely our goal will be to kick them out of the country entirely,
despite the territory received from Russia in her keep the ability
of the Ukrainian military to re seize territory in her son in the
South Zaporizhia even in the Donbass, let alone Crimea is difficult,
according to the analysts that I speak to will there come a point
where if Ukraine admits that it's impossible to receive is
All of that territory.
Negotiations can begin. No, we will never come to that conclusion.
We will never come to that point. This is our country.
We will fight as long
As it is needed.
To restore territorial integrity of Ukraine, but the recent achievements
in Harkin region they are very visible remarkable. We also have achievements
in the cells near her son.
The they prove that we can win. It sounds like what you're saying
is that the military success the ability for the military to prove
that Russia cannot necessarily hold grounded. Seized is important
for your political support in the West. Definitely not only political,
but I also think public support. We all know the story. People like
to support the winners. Every game that we make.
Is important to inspire our partners in the world to continue supporting
us. And to step up this support. Ukraine's government needs $5 billion
a month in order just to pay its bills. Is the West giving you enough
economic support.
Not yet.
But I want to make one point. The numbers you have mentioned. I absolutely
correct. There was not a single months since February.
Where we would receive this five billions. Though we didn't receive
this five billion per month, we still managed to survive and adapt
our economy.
To the New World War time reality.
Our life will not be getting better financially in the coming months,
so this five billion is needed. Have the Europeans promised economic
support that hasn't been delivered yet. Well?
Most of the governments were committed to stepping up to continue.
The the support but
The EU requires consensus they make promises.
But then
Making building a consensus to get things done.
Yeah appears to be more difficult than promising something. Let's
talk about weapons. The US continues to resist Ukrainian requests
to deliver the longer range munitions for the critical multiple launch
rocket system. The high Mars publicly at least the US says that it
is not delivering those longer range munitions because Ukraine doesn't
need them on the battlefield.
As Ukraine need them. We do and our generals have excellent line
of communication with American generals.
Um, they are discussing this issue.
Um
Oh, we We appreciate everything. The United States have done it,
but there are some specific types of weapons.
Which I needed to
Again get things done on the battleground. I do not exclude the option
that the United States will make a positive decision on this specific
type of weapon. So you're saying that negotiation continues? That's
not a close. Yes, yes. Has Ukraine used us weapons to strike Crimea?
No.
Do you think the explosions that have happened in Crimea have almost
called Putin's bluff. Putin claimed that Crimea was under Russian
nuclear absolutely the psychological effect.
Of these incidents in Crimea is far more important than the military
effect. As you mentioned there have been critical infrastructure
attacks in Ukraine in the last couple of days. Do you believe that
you would have been able to stop those attacks Had you received the
air defense systems that in fact, the U. S and Germany, among others
have promised but not yet delivered. Absolutely.
We need air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles.
Targeting our cities and our civilian infrastructure.
And the sooner we get them, the more civilian lives will be spared.