'This story is about life'; Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tells Stanford students
STANFORD (CBS SF) -- In a nearly hour-long video discussion Friday with Stanford students and others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a discussion of his hopes, fears and determination in his nation's battle against the Russian invasion.
One of the most poignant moments came near the end when a student named Katherine at the university from Ukraine asked about the toll being taken by young Ukrainians.
"Kathrine, you know, it's true someone is studying in universities and someone is standing in line to the drafting stations and answering the calls for mobilization are very young boys and girls," he said. "Very young and unfortunately not all of them will see a chance to write a thesis and not all of them will stay alive. That's a terrible story. That's why I would like to wish to all the students, I would like to wish you a long and interesting life."
"In what you are doing. In science, in journalism, in art...that is why I would sincerely wish you peace."
The Ukrainian President answered questions for nearly an hour. He also offered his condolences to the families of the 19 elementary school children and two teachers killed in the Uvalde shooting.
"On the 24th of February the full fledge was against Ukriane started and 18-year-old Russian boys entered our country, our homes to kill, to torture, to rape -- this is difficult to understand," he said. "The reasons. And on the 24th of May, three months later exactly, in Texas an 18-year-old boy entered a school to kill 19 children, 19 kids and two adults. This is impossible to understand at all."
"This is a tragedy and we are living in terrible times when American people are expressing their condolences because of the deaths in Ukraine at war and we express our condolences because of deaths (in Texas) in peace. Accept my condolences. Please."
