The Ukrainian president joined both CBC News and CTV News for a roundtable interview at the presidential palace in Kyiv. Zelensky told Canadian reporters that he did not believe Iran’s public denials. “They are killing our people,” Zelensky said. “So what trust can we talk about? “Supply Iran [Russia] with drones, [they] supply murders, murders of Ukrainians. That’s their deal. Financial agreement. Blood money for Iran”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani reiterated Tehran’s denials in a statement to the media late Tuesday and – for the first time – expressed his readiness to engage in “dialogue and negotiation with Ukraine to clear these allegations”. Ukraine’s foreign minister suggested Zelensky cut diplomatic ties with Iran after a wave of drone attacks across the country killed several people and destroyed infrastructure. Several times during the interview, Zelensky paused to check his phone for text updates about missile and drone attacks and reports of successful engagements by the country’s armed forces. Loud bangs were heard outside the presidential palace sometime during the interview. Zelensky pointed to the ceiling and said that the air defense was working. Zelensky said the Ukrainian government had no doubt that Iranian Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones were behind the attacks. He said allied nations have separately provided information supporting his government’s position. He did not address reports suggesting the Iranians are training Russians to use drones in Crimea. “They cannot be trusted,” Zelensky said, “And I emphasize that they are not people. They are being brainwashed inside the country, the same way Russia is doing it. They tell their people, ‘We didn’t sell anything,’” but these are all lies [a] outright lie. They are killing our people.” Firefighters work after a drone attack on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 17, 2022. (Roman Hrytsyna/Associated Press) The full interview with CBC’s Briar Stewart about the war, and its toll on Ukraine and Zelensky personally, airs tonight on The National at 9 p.m. ET on CBC News Network, at 10 PM ET on CBC TV and CBC Gem. The Ukrainian president also called on the international community to demand that Russian troops and private security contractors leave the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been under occupation for several months. If they don’t, he said, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “should cut off all their relations with Russia.” IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi has doubled down in recent days on the agency’s urgent call for a safety zone around the plant. “It must be said loud and clear – demilitarization of the entire station,” Zelensky said. “Not just words. All military personnel must leave station grounds.” There are 500 Russian soldiers at the power plant armed with “explosives,” the president said. “We need calls and serious conditions from the IAEA, from partners, from Europe, from the world, a UN resolution – leave tomorrow, immediately,” he said.
Canada has provided Ukraine with “very strong support” — Zelenskyy
Zelensky also expressed gratitude during the interview for Canada’s support, saying he appreciates never having to stand in line to talk to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He sidestepped a question about his government’s call for more armored vehicles beyond what Canada has already promised and delivered. Zelensky chose instead to praise the Canadian government’s swift delivery of monetary aid, which helped keep the Ukrainian economy afloat. “It’s a very strong support,” Zelensky said. “Not every state can boast about that, although Trudeau doesn’t boast much. “I’m very grateful to him. I understand that this money is not from the government but, first and foremost, this money comes from people, taxpayers. That’s why I’m very grateful.” As of last summer, Canada had offered Ukraine up to $620 million in bilateral loans, of which $500 million had been disbursed. In addition, Canada also committed $1.4 billion in additional loan resources to the Ukrainian government through a new Managed Account for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is in addition to the $500 million in military aid announced in the last federal budget.
