Zelenskyy says Ukrainian troops left embattled eastern city to avoid losses

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that this weekend’s decision to retreat from the eastern city of Avdiivka was taken to avoid human losses and due to a lack of ammunition.

"It was a professional decision that will save many Ukrainian lives ... It is important for us to save the lives of our soldiers," he stressed about the withdrawal from the city in Donetsk, speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany

Zelenskyy also pushed for countries to give Ukraine longer-range weapons, saying when Ukraine is given these it will depend less on the actions of the troops.

Zelensky urged more air-defense systems, saying that "once Ukraine unblocks the sky" it will not only push Russia back but this will also allow it repatriate "millions of Ukrainians."

He also promised "to surprise Russia" later this year with new drone systems and electronic warfare.

Zelensky declined to answer directly about the new military draft, lowering the conscription age from 25 to 27, saying that if some people are tired of the battlefield, "they may have rest whenever they want."

The Ukrainian president also invited US presidential hopeful Donald Trump to visit Ukraine, adding that if Trump wants, he can even take him to the frontline.

Asked about his expectations on Ukraine's NATO accession, Zelenskyy said, “It would be a fair thing to do," but added that a series of bilateral security guarantees with countries such as the UK, Germany and France would also help.