I attended Zelensky's private press conference - this is what he told me
Francis Dearnley, one of the co-hosts of the Telegraph podcast Ukraine: The Latest, was invited to attend the private press conference before President Zelensky flew back to Ukraine.
Before this intimate hour-long press conference began at Stansted Airport, one of our seasoned industry veterans leaned toward me and remarked, 'This may be the most important conference you and I will ever attend in our careers.'
This statement encapsulated the gravity of the moment as we awaited the President. The decisions to be made in the coming days could very well prove to be the most consequential for Europe and its security since the end of the Second World War.
The conference room was tight and bustling, the air punctuated by the roar of aeroplanes overhead, making the water in our glasses shake. When President Zelensky entered, a collective breath, an almost imperceptible pause, then nods of acknowledgement when he arrived.
To our surprise, he appeared more relaxed than anticipated after what must have been a hellish week. Smiling and exchanging light-hearted banter, he nonetheless remained unwavering in the seriousness of his answers.
This was not a man who was prepared to offer big concessions following his recent meeting with President Trump. The sole moment of discomfort came when he was asked if he would 'apologise' to the American president. He deftly evaded the question.
Far from displaying signs of capitulation, he exuded a steely resolve. However, no clear path forward emerged from our discussion – there was no concrete outline of what the Europeans might offer, nor any assurance of what role they would play in shaping Ukraine's future security. The reality was clear: the United States still holds a pivotal role in the security guarantees that Ukraine would require to ensure a lasting peace.
I posed a question about the occupied territories, asking whether any agreement could involve surrendering land to Russia, particularly in regions it claims as its own, despite the continued presence of Ukrainian troops.
Zelensky's response was unequivocal: any peace deal that involved such concessions would not be peace – it would be 'a forced capitulation.' This was a crucial point, for it is widely believed that President Putin will never accept a peace agreement that does not cede entire regions he has annexed, inhabited by millions of Ukrainians, to Russia.'
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
24 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Israel retrieves body of Thai hostage as 95 more people reported killed in Gaza offensive
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel said Saturday that it had retrieved the body of a Thai hostage abducted into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led attack that sparked the war, as the Israeli military continued its offensive, killing at least 95 people in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza's health ministry. Nattapong Pinta's body was returned to Israel in a special military operation. Pinta came to Israel to work in agriculture. Israel's government said that he was seized from Kibbutz Nir Oz and killed early in the war, which began on Oct. 7, 2023. Thailand's foreign ministry reported that the last Thai hostage in Gaza was confirmed dead, and said the bodies of two others are yet to be retrieved. Fifty-five hostages remain in Gaza. Israel says more than half are dead. Families were rallying again Saturday evening in Israel, calling for a ceasefire deal that would bring everyone home. Israel's defense minister said that Pinta's body was retrieved from the Rafah area in southern Gaza. The army said that he was seized by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that also took two Israeli-American hostages, Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai, whose bodies were retrieved on Thursday. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas militants. Many of the agricultural workers lived on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, and Hamas militants overran those places first. A total of 46 Thais have been killed during the war, according to Thailand's foreign ministry. Separately, Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel's military had surrounded the area where he's being held and that any harm that came to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel's responsibility. Israel's military didn't immediately comment. Israel continues its military offensive Four Israeli strikes hit the Muwasi area in southern Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, one strike hit an apartment, killing seven people including a mother and five children. Their bodies were taken to Shifa hospital 'Stand up, my love,' one weeping woman said, touching the shrouded bodies. Another strike in Gaza City killed six members of a family, including two children, according to the Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals. Israel said that it was responding to Hamas' 'barbaric attacks' and dismantling its capabilities. It said it takes all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. Reports say some of the dead tried to get food aid Staff at Nasser hospital, which received the bodies of six people over the past 24 hours, said that they were killed while on their way to get food aid. Much of Gaza's population of more than 2 million relies on aid after widespread destruction of agriculture and markets as well as a recent Israeli blockade. Experts have warned of famine. Israel's army said that despite warnings that the aid distribution area is an active combat zone during nighttime hours, several suspects attempted to approach troops operating in the Tel al-Sultan area overnight 'in a manner that posed a threat.' The army said that troops called out, but as the suspects continued advancing, they fired warning shots. An army official who couldn't be named in line with military procedures said that the shots were fired about a kilometer (half-mile) from the distribution site. Over the past two weeks, shootings have occurred frequently near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed , according to Gaza hospital officials. Israel's military has said that it fired warning shots or, in some instances, at individuals approaching troops. The hubs are run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation , a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants GHF to replace humanitarian groups in Gaza that distribute aid in coordination with the United Nations. A GHF spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with the group's rules, said that it didn't feed Gaza residents on Saturday and blamed Hamas threats. There was no immediate Hamas response. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid under the U.N.-led system. The U.N. and aid groups deny there's significant diversion of aid to militants and say the new system — which they have rejected — allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and won't be effective. The U.N says it has been unable to distribute much aid under its own system because of Israeli military restrictions on movements and insecurity. Separately, Palestinians lined up at a soup kitchen in Gaza City for handouts on the second day of Eid al-Adha . 'I have been standing here for more than an hour and a half. I feel I have a sunstroke, and I am in need,' said the waiting Farida al-Sayed, who said she had six people to feed. 'I only had lentils, and I ran out of them.' Death tolls since the war began Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. Most were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Hamas-run Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. ___ Mohammad Jahjouh reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut. ___ Follow the AP's war coverage at ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the previous bodies were recovered on Thursday, not Friday. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Los Angeles Times
27 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Israel says it retrieved the body of a Thai hostage taken to Gaza when the war began
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel said Saturday it had retrieved the body of a Thai hostage abducted into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war against Hamas. The prime minister's office said Nattapong Pinta's body was returned to Israel in a special military operation. Pinta was seized from Kibbutz Nir Oz and killed early in the war, the government said. Thailand's foreign ministry in a statement confirmed that the last Thai hostage in Gaza was confirmed dead. It said the bodies of two others are yet to be retrieved. Israel's defense minister said Pinta's body was retrieved from the Rafah area in southern Gaza. He had come to Israel to work in agriculture. The news came two days after the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages were retrieved. Fifty-five hostages remain in Gaza, and Israel says more than half are dead. The army said Pinta was seized by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that it said also abducted and killed Shiri Bibas and her two small children. The same group took the two Israeli-American hostages, Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai, whose bodies were retrieved Thursday. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas militants. Many of the agricultural workers lived in compounds on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, and Hamas militants overran those places first. A total of 46 Thais have been killed during the conflict, according to Thailand's foreign ministry. Separately, Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel's military had surrounded the area where he is held and that any harm to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel's responsibility. Israel has continued its military offensive across Gaza. Four strikes hit the Muwasi area in southern Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, one strike hit an apartment, killing seven people including a mother and five children. Their bodies were taken to Shifa hospital. 'Stand up, my love,' one weeping woman said, touching the shrouded bodies. Another strike in Gaza City killed six members of a family, including two children, according to the Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals. Israel said it was responding to Hamas' 'barbaric attacks' and dismantling its capabilities. It said it takes all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. Staff at Nasser hospital, where six of the bodies over the past 24 hours were taken, said they were killed while on their way to get food aid. Much of Gaza's population of over 2 million now relies on such aid after widespread destruction of agriculture and markets as well as a recent Israeli blockade of two and a half months. Experts have warned of famine in the territory. Israel's army said that despite warnings that the distribution area is an active combat zone during nighttime hours, several suspects attempted to approach troops operating in the Tel al-Sultan area overnight 'in a manner that posed a threat to the troops.' The army said troops called out, but as the suspects continued advancing, they fired warning shots. Shootings have occurred frequently near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. The hubs are run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants the GHF to replace humanitarian groups in Gaza that distribute aid in coordination with the United Nations. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid under the U.N.-led system. The U.N. and aid groups deny there is significant diversion of aid to militants and say the new system — which they have rejected — allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and won't be effective. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 2023 attack and abducted 251 hostages. Most were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. Mednick and Jahjouh write for the Associated Press. This story has been corrected to note that the previous bodies were recovered on Thursday, not Friday. Jahjouh reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press reporter Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut, Lebanon. Follow the AP's war coverage at
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Potential federal cuts could lead Interfaith Housing Alliance to shrink services
Jodie Ostoich, the president and CEO of the Interfaith Housing Alliance, said it's hard to say how much of the organization's funding is in jeopardy due to possible federal funding cuts for fiscal year 2026. About 30% of the alliance's funding comes directly from the federal government, but the nonprofit also gets state 'pass-through' grants with federal money. 'We have deep concern about the proposed federal budget cuts to housing programs, which will have devastating effects on families across the nation,' Ostoich wrote in an email in May to community members asking for donations. 'The recent budget proposal includes significant reductions to essential housing assistance programs, which are critical for the well-being of millions of Americans.' The federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1. President Donald Trump's proposed budget was submitted to the U.S. Senate's Appropriations Committee on May 2. The administration released an appendix to the proposed budget on May 30. The Senate Appropriations Committee is still reviewing Trump's proposal, with several subcommittee hearings scheduled for next week. 'The recommended funding levels result from a rigorous, line-by-line review of FY 2025 spending, which was found to be laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans and tilted toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life,' Russell Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins introducing the budget proposal. The Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA), founded in 1990, develops affordable housing and offers educational programs and social services in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania to low- and moderate-income communities. Some educational programs include the organization's 'Credit Café,' through which people can better understand their credit and credit reports, and a financial freedom bootcamp. The IHA also offers a purchase-repair homeownership program, with free technical assistance to participants in Frederick, Carroll and Washington counties throughout the homeownership process. The organization also manages affordable rental communities throughout central and western Maryland, as well as southcentral Pennsylvania. Ostoich said in an interview that in 2024, over 200 people participated in IHA workshops. At the end of last year, 15 people were in the homeownership program. Additionally, she said, about 270 households are living in the properties IHA manages. CUTS AND IMPACTS In her May email asking for donations, Ostoich outlined possible reductions to housing assistance programs proposed in the federal budget that would impact the IHA or were used by the organization to develop housing. Those cuts include: * A reduction of $26.7 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's State Rental Assistance Block Grant. Rental assistance programs will be restructured into a block grant system with capped financial support for able-bodied adults. * Eliminating $3.3 billion in flexible funding through the Community Development Block Grant that supports housing rehabilitation, infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization * Cutting $1.25 billion from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which supports building and preserving affordable housing * A reduction of $721 million in rural development housing programs, pulling back federal engagement with housing in underserved rural areas In an interview Wednesday, Ostoich said that if the cuts are approved, the IHA would have to shrink, and it would have to reassess what other programs it could offer. 'It certainly would open the door to many more collaborations, I think, that potentially hadn't happened before,' she said. '... Obviously, I don't have a crystal ball of what could happen.' Ostoich wrote in her email that the IHA has used Community Development Block Grant money to fund repairs and deliver supportive services throughout Frederick County and has used HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding to partially finance four tax credit projects with a total of 129 housing units. Additionally, the IHA has used the State Rental Assistance Block Grant at an apartment community it manages on North Market Street. Ostoich said that every two years, the IHA has received a rural development grant, and the organization usually states how many housing units it will complete in that two-year grant period. 'What that relies on is those mortgages that [the USDA's] Rural Development makes available to low- and moderate-income households. They are special mortgages that make the mortgage affordable, so there's no other product quite like them,' she said. These mortgages are made more affordable through things like extended payment terms. There's more leniency, and these mortgages help people who want to buy homes begin to build generational wealth for their families. Ostoich said there isn't money for these Rural Development mortgages in the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. She said getting this mortgage funding has been an issue since February 2024. The IHA is working on a new homeownership program that isn't limited to rural areas and would open up more homeownership opportunities to people in urban areas. That way, the program wouldn't have to depend on funding from Rural Development and could get money from other sources. Since last year, the IHA has felt more urgency to develop this new program, Ostoich said. The reduction of the IHA's programs and workshops would impact other local nonprofits, such as the United Way of Frederick County, that collaborate with the organization. United Way serves individuals who are ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. People who are ALICE make above the federal poverty line but still struggle to afford basic necessities, including housing. Ken Oldham, United Way's CEO, said that his organization frequently partners with the IHA to help financially struggling families begin the journey to homeownership. He said United Way pairs people with the IHA's purchase-repair homeownership program. It also uses the Credit Café workshops in its own 'Pathway to Homeownership' program to effectively educate people and help them repair their credit. Pairing with other programs like the IHA's homeownership program 'really opens the door for ALICE households to make a generational-changing financial move on behalf of themselves and their families,' Oldham said. If the IHA has to shrink its program offerings, that could exacerbate the challenges ALICE households face trying to buy homes, such as poor credit and expensive mortgages. 'It would put United Way in a position where we would have to figure out that credit piece [of Pathway to Homeownership] on our own. ... The IHA does such a great job with it. That would be painful. That would be very difficult,' Oldham said. 'The lack of that rural purchase program would take a very significant tool out of the toolbox for ALICE households to purchase a home.' Ostoich said she's still looking for projects for the IHA to do at the direction of the nonprofit's Board of Directors. 'I am still pounding that pavement and trying to move forward in ways that will deliver on the mission we're committed to,' she said. '... There's a lot of concern about being able to serve people and knowing that nonprofits often fill the gaps for government programming, really wondering what is going to happen to people if nonprofits cannot continue to serve the number of people they do.'
