Tsai Ing-wen: Hello Volodya. I hope you don’t thoughts my calling you that.
Volodymyr Zelensky: (Sobs, wordless.)
Tsai: What is it, Volodya? Calm down.
Zelensky: (Sobbing continues.*) We have been left alone to defend our state. Who is able to struggle alongside us?
I don’t see anybody. Who is able to give Ukraine a assure of NATO membership?
Everyone is afraid.
Tsai: But the Americans have given you weapons, rifles. The Germans even gave you helmets – immediately – and now they’re promising extra. And additionally they despatched navy advisers, “little green men” – I believe that’s what they name them when they’re Russian.
Zelensky: We are going through tanks and missiles. I’m afraid what now we have is fairly small potatoes. As the American politician Ron Paul mentioned, it appears the Americans are able to struggle Russia – all the way down to the final Ukrainian (extra sobbing).
Tsai: But Volodya, you bought to deal with the US Congress and plead for assist – definitely that reveals help.
Zelensky: Support? The script that the Americans handed me centered on a No Fly Zone, in different phrases, a name for World War III, nuclear struggle. I seemed like a madman! (More sobbing.)
Tsai: I didn’t suppose that made you seem like a madman. I love somebody who’s keen to threat nuclear struggle for one’s beliefs. That reveals actual backbone, actual guts. And these Congress folks applauded you. If you seemed mad, would that not make all of them insane too? Surely you can not imagine that.
But I understand how you are feeling about these scripts. The Americans stuff one in my face every so often with the “advice” that it might be good to learn it. I really feel I get a proposal I can’t refuse, as they are saying within the American motion pictures.
But you would not have to simply accept the script – you’re protected in hiding in Ukraine.
Zelensky: I can’t touch upon the place I’m – in the event you perceive what I imply.
And I have no idea what sort of firm you’re conserving, Tsai, however most individuals are appalled and frightened by the prospect of nuclear struggle. My stance allowed Biden to look sane by turning thumbs down. I used to be the autumn man.
Tsai: Look, Volodya. You need to pay money for your self. The US has managed to get the entire world behind you. Just just like the US has obtained the entire world behind me. Not to fret.
Zelensky: Are you critical, Tsai? You know that not solely China but additionally India has refused to hitch US sanctions on Russia – that’s 35% of the world’s inhabitants proper there. China is the No 1 economic system on the planet by PPP-GDP and India No 3, as you certainly know. So two of the large three should not backing sanctions.
Also refusing are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico. That is over half the world’s inhabitants! And there are a lot of extra refusenik nations, together with the 40 international locations not in that listing on which the US has sanctions – I’ve misplaced rely.
And NATO is displaying cracks. Macron and others are speaking to Putin on a regular basis. Sweden has refused to hitch NATO, saying that may be “destabilizing.”
The world is altering, Tsai.
Exactly what number of international locations are behind you, Tsai? You higher verify – fastidiously.
I want I had. (More sobbing.)
Tsai: (Now appears to be like very apprehensive.) Good level, Volodya.
Zelensky: And now Germany is rearming underneath the affect of the loopy German Greens, essentially the most hawkish of the events within the governing coalition. That after all is a dream come true for the neocons – having Germany struggle Russia. Two principal rivals of the US preventing each other. It will destroy Ukraine and the remainder of Europe. As I’ve mentioned previously, this struggle will engulf Europe.
Tsai: (Now a bit shaken.) But why did you not cease all this as quickly as you have been elected? You ran as a peace candidate.
Zelensky: (Even extra upset.) I couldn’t. The Americans wouldn’t allow it, and Russia is effectively conscious of this as, Lavrov has made clear. And America’s neo-Nazi buddies just like the Azov Battalion fiercely oppose it – and collectively they’ve sufficient clout to cease an elected president – and even depose him, as we noticed again in 2014. I’m keenly conscious of that, as is any president till the US grip on this nation is damaged and it’s “de-nazified,” if I’ll borrow a time period.
So right here I’m presiding over the pointless destruction of my beloved nation, unable to conform to the straightforward phrases of peace that the Minsk Accords established.
My place in historical past isn’t going to be an excellent one.
Tsai: But at the least you’ve the Ukrainian folks united behind you. Here on Taiwan there may be appreciable pro-mainland sentiment.
Zelensky: United? I’ve needed to ban a dozen political events, together with the principle opposition one. I’ve needed to convey all TV underneath management of 1 platform. And I’ve needed to declare martial regulation. Do you suppose everybody right here is completely happy that as an alternative of implementing the Minsk Accords now we have introduced ourselves so far?
My recommendation to you, Tsai, is don’t enable Taiwan to develop into the Ukraine of East Asia, as a result of proper now that’s the plan the Americans have for you.
I’ve to go now. I’m being known as. I’m not even purported to make calls like this.
(Nervously.) Keep this name between us. Goodbye.
Tsai: (Shaken.) Goodbye, Volodya.
(Hangs up, summons her assistant.) I want to put one other name. Please get President Xi on the road. He has wished to speak. Tell him I need to focus on the “one country, two systems” coverage.
And inform him it’s the Governor of Taiwan Province calling.
*These are the precise phrases that Zelensky utilized in a midnight speech to Ukraine on February 25.
