Zelenski warns that Russia’s announced withdrawal from Jershon could be a regrouping of troops

He assures that Moscow has lost "ten times" more soldiers than kyiv since the beginning of the invasion

MADRID, 10 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has claimed that Russia's announcement about a withdrawal of troops from the Jershon region could be a strategic decision to regroup its forces, before adding that Moscow has lost "ten times" more military than Kiev from the beginning of the invasion.

"They are prepared to defend this region and they are not prepared to leave the city," Zelensky said of the Russian forces' intentions. "The fact that they are in homes (which they have occupied in the area) means that they are seriously preparing, but we are also very prepared," he said.

"We have a strategy and different directions," he argued in an interview with the US television network CNN, before adding that the Pentagon's estimates that Russia has already lost 50 percent of its combat tanks "is more in line with or less with reality.

Zelenski has clarified that, "speaking frankly", "no one knows the complete reality, especially regarding personnel." However, he has stated that Russia has suffered "ten times more" losses than Ukraine, which he has described as "a very significant difference".

The president has also pointed to a refusal by kyiv to treat the population as "cannon fodder", which in his opinion would explain this difference in the casualty figures. "When we ask our partners for artillery or armored vehicles, it is not just for the weapons, but to protect our military," he defended.

In this sense, he has indicated that the artillery delivered by the United States and European countries has helped Ukraine to "break" the Russian military offensive, before reiterating his support for Washington and expressing his wish that "bipartisan support" be maintained in United States after the mid-term elections held on November 8.

"We are very appreciative of the bipartisan support. We would love to see this bipartisan support continue after the election," he said. "It is very important to preserve this level of support, because the support of the United States sends a very significant and powerful signal," Zelensky stressed.