"Ukraine can win": Zelenskyy commented on the situation in Avdiivka and pointed out the risks for Europe

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the withdrawal of the Defense Forces from Avdiivka in the Donetsk region a "professional decision", the key goal of which is to save the lives of Ukrainian soldier. He emphasized, "Ukraine can win the war against the aggressor, but this victory depends not only on the courage of the defenders of our country but also on the willingness of the West to help achieve it."

The President said this during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 17. He also warned Europe of the challenges it is facing.

Zelenskyy's speech at the Munich Security Conference came after the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced the withdrawal of the Defense Forces from Avdiivka, which had been under intense and continuous Russian assault since early October last year.

"It is a professional decision to save our people. And for us, this is the most important task. We save our people, our soldiers," Zelenskyy commented on the latest events.

He also emphasized, "Avdiivka is a vivid example of the fact that achieving victory depends not only on Ukrainian soldiers, who have already demonstrated extraordinary courage and valor in defending Ukraine against a much larger and better-armed aggressor."

"Ukraine can win. Our actions are limited only by the sufficiency and range of the means of destruction. Still, it depends not only on us. The situation in Avdiivka confirms this. Unfortunately, keeping Ukraine in an artificial arms deficit, in particular in the shortage of artillery and long-range weapons, allows Putin to adapt to the intensity of hostilities. This self-weakening of democracy undermines our joint efforts," Zelenskyy said.

The President added that "the biggest thing that Russia has destroyed is not even houses or cities. Russia has destroyed our lives."

At the same time, the head of state reminded that the West had somewhat overestimated the military power of the Russian Federation. Zelenskyy sees the aggressor as having only one "advantage" in which the civilized world cannot compete with it.

"Russia now has the only "advantage", which is the complete devaluation of human lives, and the constant meat assaults are a proof of this," he said.

At the same time, Zelenskyy warned Europe about the challenges it is currently facing.

"Perhaps Europe is on the verge of times when the question of applying Article 5 of the NATO charter will be not a question to Washington but a question to European capitals," the President of Ukraine said.

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