Zelenskyy vows to reclaim all of Ukraine
KHERSON • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday visited Kherson, the biggest prize his troops have won so far, vowing to press on until Kyiv reclaims control of all its occupied territory. Zelenskyy’s visit came as the heads of U.S. and Russian intelligence met in Turkey for the highest level publicly acknowledged face-to-face U.s.-russian talks since the Russian invasion in February.
Washington said Kyiv was aware of the meeting, which would focus on preventing an inadvertent escalation and not involve discussion of any settlement of the conflict.
Zelenskyy, in a casual grey winter jacket, shook hands with soldiers and waved to civilians looking out from surrounding flats as he was escorted by armed bodyguards through the Kherson streets, just three days after his troops swept into the city.
He told soldiers that they had “proved it was impossible to kill Ukraine,” then held a minute’s silence for troops who died during the offensive.
Residents also turned out, some with children or baby strollers, some waving Ukrainian flags or draped in them — a stark contrast with the early days of the Russian occupation in March when people gathered to berate Russian soldiers.
No senior Russian official had made an analogous visit during eight months of occupation of the city, which President Vladimir Putin proclaimed “eternally Russian” six weeks ago.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for peace, but only on its terms that would restore all occupied territory: “You see our strong army. We are step by step coming through our country, through the temporarily occupied territories.”
Minutes before he arrived, nearby shelling could be heard, and after he finished speaking more blasts of artillery echoed over the city.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had gathered evidence of at least 400 war crimes committed by Russian troops during their occupation of the area, including killings and abductions.
Russia denies its troops target civilians or have committed atrocities in occupied areas. Mass burial sites have been found in other parts of Ukraine previously occupied by Russian troops, including some with civilian bodies showing signs of torture.
A White House spokesperson said CIA Director William Burns would deliver a warning at his meeting in Turkey with Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin of consequences should Putin use nuclear weapons.
“He is not conducting negotiations of any kind. He is not discussing settlement of the war in Ukraine,” said the spokesperson. “He is conveying a message on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, and the risks of escalation to strategic stability. He will also raise the cases of unjustly detained US citizens.”