Zelenskyy on mobilization: Primarily it's about justice
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president gov ua)
Mobilization in Ukraine is primarily a matter of justice. It is unfair to bypass those who need a break, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Channel 4 News.
"The question of mobilization is, first and foremost, an understanding of what it means for different segments of society. It's a matter of justice because there are people who have been at war from day one, and just because they don't complain doesn't mean there shouldn't be an opportunity for others to replace them and take a break," the president said.
He added that soldiers deserve to be replaced on the front lines. If there is a shortage of personnel, according to Zelenskyy, it is necessary to provide the military with the tools to do so. This involves mobilization and the training of new recruits.
"Therefore, a law on mobilization needs to be smart and fair. It's necessary for the military. You can't say they have enough of the army. That's unfair and unjust... It's unfair to bypass when someone is sacrificing their life for you, and it's fair for a person to know where they are going, for how long, and how well they will be prepared," emphasized the head of state.
Zelenskyy also commented on media reports about supposed war fatigue.
"When we talk about fatigue, we must distinguish these things. Fatigue from the war is something we cannot afford. Otherwise, the situation will be that someone is defending the state. I'm not only talking about the front; it includes people working, running businesses, paying taxes. You can get tired while rockets are falling, but people continue... If we get tired, we lose what we have," the president said.
He emphasized that it is essential not only to defend the country on the front lines but also mentioned that healthcare workers, teachers, and energy workers are crucial for defense.
"We can afford to get tired in the evening, but in the morning, we'll have to defend the state, fight for it if we want to preserve it," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Mobilization bill
In late December, the Cabinet submitted a bill on mobilization to the Parliament, proposing partial changes to its conduct. The document was reviewed by the Committee on National Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Initially, the Parliament announced that they would consider the bill on January 11 in the first reading. However, it later became known that the document was sent back to the government for further refinement, officially withdrawn from the Parliament.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, reported that the decision to return the bill to the Cabinet was made in collaboration with representatives of the Parliament, the government, and the military leadership of the country.
