'Stalemate With Russia Not an Option': Zelenskyy Repeats Appeals for Foreign Aid

In the background of Russia and Ukraine possibly settling into a grinding stalemate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Financial Times in the UK and stressed that such a situation was "not an option", AFP reported.

Reiterating his appeal for foreign assistance, the Ukrainian leader added that "victory must be achieved on the battlefield."

The eastern European country has so far aggressively resisted Russia's onslaught, culminating in scattered stalemates and Moscow concentrating its forces in the east.

Saying that the Ukrainian 'people are his priority', Zelenskyy added, "We are inferior in terms of equipment and therefore we are not capable of advancing."

The leader also spoke on what would be considered a victory for Ukraine at present, and told the British newspaper that re-establishing borders that were controlled by Ukraine before Russia's invasion in February would signify a 'serious', albeit 'temporary' victory, AFP reported.

However, Zelenskyy underlined that his goal was "full de-occupation of our entire territory".

The leader went on to assert that diplomacy and negotiation are the ideal way out of the crisis, even as talks between the warring regions have been suspended since March.

Where Does Ukraine Stand Now?

According to Zelenskyy, Russia was controlling about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory till early June.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have successfully fought back against Russian advances in central and northeastern Ukraine, like near Kyiv and Kharkiv respectively, and also in large parts of the South.

On Sunday, 5 June, Russian forces struck Kyiv for the first time in over a month.

While Russia claimed that the barrage destroyed tanks sent by Eastern European countries, Kyiv stated that the strike hit a rail car repair works.

The Donbas region, however, which is in the eastern part of the country, continues to be under relentless bombardments from Russian troops.

(With inputs from AFP.)