World News

Ukraine is likely to win the battle for Kharkiv

Vladimir Zelensky said on Friday night that although the Ukrainians are doing everything possible to drive out the Russians, “no one today can predict how long this war will last.”

“Unfortunately, this will depend not only on our people, who are already giving their best,” he said in his evening video address to the nation. “It will depend on our partners, on European countries, on the whole free world.”

He said he was grateful to all those working to increase sanctions against Russia and increase military and financial support for Ukraine. “This is the only recipe for defending freedom in the face of the Russian invasion. And for Western countries, it’s not just a cost. It’s not about accounting, it’s about the future.”

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine on Friday shot down the 200th Russian plane from the war and noted Russia’s heavy losses in tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters and drones.