“Europe will not be able to replace U.S. aid in either the short or medium term”, – Yermak

Europe will not be able to replace U.S. assistance “in the short or medium term”.

This information said Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview with Corriere della Sera.

“We see that Europeans are rearming at a pace that was unimaginable until recently. However, we are arming ourselves as well. Our defense industry is now at the forefront,” Yermak said.

He also dismissed as “complete nonsense” a report by The Economist claiming that the Presidential Office is preparing for elections this summer.

“Complete nonsense. It’s impossible to plan elections while hostilities are ongoing. First, we must end the war — only then can we vote,” he stated.

Commenting on the recent capture of two Chinese nationals in the Donbas, Yermak said that “dozens” of Chinese citizens are fighting on the side of Russia.

“There are dozens and dozens of them on various parts of the front. I don’t know exactly how many, but it’s a lot. This is a serious and large-scale matter that we are investigating,” Yermak said.

When the journalist noted that many foreigners — including Europeans — are fighting for Ukraine, Yermak responded:

“No, it’s not the same. China has always told us it is neutral. Our volunteers come from countries that support us — like yours. Beijing needs to explain this to us,” he concluded.