Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Russia is "happy" to see Israel's war with Hamas as it helps "take focus from Ukraine."
Zelensky was interviewed on Meet the Press in a segment that aired Sunday. The president spoke partially through a translator and partially in his own English.
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WATCH: Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa rejects that the war with Russia has reached a stalemate.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 5, 2023
“I don’t think that this is a stalemate. … We have done a lot. We had a very difficult situation. They thought that they would checkmate us, but this didn't happen.” pic.twitter.com/IZUO0IgQaf
"Of course, Russia is very happy with this war," Zelensky said of the Israel-Hamas conflict. "They don’t count how many children were killed there. They don’t think about the flag or nationality. We saw some moments, their attitude. We saw what was in Makhachkala, Dagestan, this is the part of Russia, this is the biggest wave of antisemitic."
Zelensky's comments referenced a protest last week when Israelis traveling to the Dagestan region in Russia were met with Muslim protesters at the airport. Videos online capture hundreds of protesters crowding the Makhachkala airport, which is in the region's capital. Some were heard chanting "Allahu Akbar," an Arabic phrase used by Muslims to praise God. Others shouted antisemitic phrases. Makhachkala has a predominantly Muslim population.
"They just want to divide the world. To take focus from Ukraine to another war. And if it will not be enough for them, I again am repeating this, if it will be not enough for them — it will not be enough because Syria was not enough. They began in Ukraine. After Ukraine, in the Middle East. They will continue their plan," Zelensky warned.
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Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova offered an opposing opinion some two weeks ago as she claimed she did not think the war between Hamas and Israel was "a diversion" from Ukraine's war with Russia.
According to Zelensky, the war could take another year before the fighting ends. He continued to advocate for more aid from the United States, as President Joe Biden previously submitted his supplemental funding proposal to Congress two weeks ago. Some $60 billion is proposed to go to Ukraine, while around $14 billion would go to Israel.