On ATACMS, President Lula's words about stopping the war and Reznikov's dismissal as Defence Minister: Zelenskyy gives interview to CNN

President Zelenskyy gave an interview to CNN in which he spoke about his negotiations with President Biden on the provision of long-range ATACMS systems to Ukraine, commented on President Lula's words on peace talks with Putin and explained the decision to dismiss Reznikov.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes to persuade the US President to approve the transfer of long-range ATACMS systems to the Ukrainian military. He believes that the use of ATACMS systems will change the situation on the battlefield, as it did after receiving HIMARS artillery systems.

"We are moving in this direction in the negotiations. I hope we will receive them in autumn. It is important for us not to pause in the counter-offensive, so we really need them," he stressed.

He commented on the Brazilian president's position on the talks with Putin as follows: "People are free to express their views. But I don't think he understands that Putin's position is not to stop the war. His position is to continue it. His position is to divide Europe. His position is not to have a strong European continent."

Zelenskyy also explained the decision to dismiss Oleksii Reznikov as Defence Minister by his unwillingness to compromise with corruption in the government.

"Justice and fairness in Ukraine are now a sensitive issue for people. We are fighting for these values now; we cannot live the way we used to for decades before. It is important what will happen after the victory - it will be a different country, different people, a different path," he stressed.

Zelenskyy also emphasised that the corruption cases relate exclusively to Ukrainian defence spending, not to financial assistance from partners or transferred weapons.