Ukrainian President Warns of Unacceptable Compromises if Bakhmut Falls to Russian Forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that if his nation does not win a drawn-out battle in the key eastern city of Bakhmut, Russia could begin building international support for a deal that could require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Zelenskyy said that if Bakhmut fell to Russian forces, their president, Vladimir Putin, would “sell this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran.” He spoke to the AP aboard a train shuttling him across Ukraine, to cities near some of the front lines of the conflict.

The leader used English for virtually all of the interview, saying “If he will feel some blood — smell that we are weak — he will push, push, push.”

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. Since then, the two countries have been locked in a stalemate, with Russia-backed separatists controlling parts of eastern Ukraine.

The situation in Bakhmut has been particularly tense, with both sides accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of sending troops and military equipment to the region, while Russia has accused Ukraine of launching attacks on separatist-held areas.

The conflict has had a devastating effect on the region, with thousands of people killed and millions displaced. The United Nations has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and has urged both sides to return to the negotiating table.

It remains to be seen how the situation in Bakhmut will be resolved, but Zelenskyy’s warning is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of a prolonged conflict.