Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses students as part of a live broadcast to UK universities. PA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses students as part of a live broadcast to UK universities. PA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses students as part of a live broadcast to UK universities. PA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses students as part of a live broadcast to UK universities. PA

Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells students in UK that Ukraine will not concede


Simon Rushton
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed Ukrainian student societies across the UK, saying his country will not give up or “concede” territory to Russia.

He likened Russia's attacks on Ukraine to the Second World War Blitz on London, Manchester, Coventry and other cities represented at the session.

Moderator Matt Frei asked Mr Zelenskyy whether there was a stage of the invasion in which he would need to cede territory to the Russians, given the loss of life in the eastern Donbas region.

“Throughout my presidency, I clearly understand and understood that every war has to finish at the table of negotiations and I understand that diplomacy can save lives — I understand this,” he said.

“But unfortunately, the president of Russian Federation doesn't understand this, and that's it. You need both parties willing to stop the war between their countries otherwise it's not going to work.

“The interpretation [of your question] sounded like, 'what are you ready to concede, or to give up' — I'd like to say that there's this independence of our country and there's not anything that we can concede.”

Ukrainian students Pavlo Denysenko and Snizhana Berezhna at Coventry University, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed students as part of a live broadcast to a number of UK universities. PA
Ukrainian students Pavlo Denysenko and Snizhana Berezhna at Coventry University, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed students as part of a live broadcast to a number of UK universities. PA

He said that 80 years ago, Manchester survived the Christmas bombing, and “this year, Ukraine had the Easter bombing — 80 years ago, Nazi invaders would ruin Coventry. This year, Russia's created in the territory of Ukraine tons of Coventries.”

Mr Zelenskyy spoke to student societies at Birmingham University, Coventry, London School of Economics, UCL, City of London, Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow and Manchester by video linked and urged them to help to rebuild his country once victory was assured.

“First of all we have to restore our territory … because we want to rebuild our country,” he told Ukrainian students studying abroad.

“We will start rebuilding all the educational institutions … so that people can go back to school, back to kindergarten, school, university for the students”.

In response to UCL Ukrainian society's question about a “brain drain” of young people, Mr Zelenskyy said there were a lot of painful aspects to Ukrainian history and it was because of them that smart people were being lost.

“When we will be victorious, we will build a new country … you're something like 20 years old, 19 years old — you're a young person, a student — I can't build a comfortable state for you without you.

“You are representing our state — you are ambassadors of our academy here.”

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

While you're here
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  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
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The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

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Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)

Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)

Wednesday

Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)

Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)

Norwich City v Everton (9pm)

Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)

Thursday

Burnley v Watford (9pm)

Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)

Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')

Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')

Updated: June 11, 2022, 10:49 AM`