Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi gave an interview to Polish public television on Friday in which he criticized what he called the “pettiness” of some countries that did not help Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion or only helped it “over the phone” and praised Poland and the “attitude of major nations”, reports EFE and Agerpres.

The international reaction that followed the beginning of the Russian invasion forced Ukraine to “reevaluate” its relations with many countries, as the response “was not the same” from all, and some were even “petty”, Zelenskyy said.

According to the Ukrainian president, Poland and its Baltic neighbors (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) behaved like true friends of his country. “They didn’t support us by phone, but they were with us in Ukraine. This is true friendship and this is what the alliance is made of,” he said.

Likewise, Zelensky continued, during the last months, “the position of the leaders of large countries, such as the Netherlands, France, Germany or Spain, was also of great importance.”

“Very close” personal relationship with the President of Poland

Insisting on Poland, he said that this country “has embraced millions of Ukrainians” in a “very impressive, selfless” gesture, which makes him “very grateful to the president (Polish Andrzej Duda), the prime minister (Mateusz). Moravetsky) and to all Poles.”

“There are many things that only Andrzej (Duda) and I know, issues that we discussed without using special means of intergovernmental communication, only through WhatsApp. This was the case in the first days of the war and later. We have a very close personal relationship,” Zelensky said.

As for Poland’s statement that it is ready to provide Ukraine with German Leopard tanks, he called it “a form of support for Ukraine”, but added that “Poland cannot independently take over all arms deliveries.”

At the end of the interview, Zelenskyy addressed his compatriots, refugees in Poland because of the war, asking them to “remain Ukrainians” and show “great respect for the Polish people”, even if there they also encounter “things that are not for them, different tastes or customs ”, and also to keep in mind that “they should return to their country, because we are fighting for them”.

“The war will end, and we are sure that it will end in victory, there is no other option,” Volodymyr Zelenskyi said.

• Read also: VIDEO President Andrzej Duda was cheered by Ukrainians after he announced Poland’s readiness to send Leopard tanks

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