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Ukraine PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyybecame emotional when asked about seeing his family as he leads the country through awar with Russiathat haskilled scores of civilians and displaced more than a millionsince it began Feb. 24.
“Work and sleep, that’s it,” Zelenskyy, 44, said Wednesday of his focus since Russia invaded.
At a press conference with reporters on Thursday, he said he’s sleeping about three hours a night, according to aNew York Timesreport.
“The enemy marked me as target No. 1, my family, as target No. 2,” the president said at the start of the invasion, before reportedlyturning down an opportunity from the U.S. to be evacuatedfrom Kyiv, the Ukraine capital.
“No, no I can’t,” Zelenskyy replied, appearing emotional.
His wife, Ukraine’s first ladyOlena Volodymyrivna Zelenska, is reportedly still in Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, along with their children, Oleksandra, 17, and 9-year-old Kyrylo.
“I will not have panic and tears. I will be calm and confident. My children are looking at me. I will be next to them. And next to my husband. And with you,” she told followers onInstagram postlast week.
Asked when he saw them last, President Zelenskyy initially said “before this war,” before correcting himself. “No, not before this war,” he said. “Three days ago, in the middle of this war.”
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Zelenskyy, who stood next to sandbags and wore a military-green shirt in the video, previously declined to say where his family is weathering the invasion, presumably for their safety.
At Thursday’s press conference, he said none of his top aides have fled the country. “That is why I am so strong and so decisive,” he said. “We have a special people, an extraordinary people.”
As president, he added, “I simply do not have the right” to be afraid.
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Russia’s assault continues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
Russian invasion of Ukraine.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. President Zelenskyy called for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
