Varenikova said Ukraine was unlikely to stop resisting the invasion, as proven by the many residents who have opted to stay and defend their country against Russian forces. However, she said this courage was not specifically limited to Ukrainians, but instead was a natural response to the situation.
“When your country risks being eliminated from existence, you fight. Ukrainians are just doing what everyone would do. If this happened to Luxembourg, the population’s response could surprise you too”, Varenikova told the RTL Radio team.
According to Varenikova, the only way to stop Putin is through force. She called upon the West to continue providing weapons, and particularly, defence against airborne attacks. Ukraine could have a chance to resist the Russian troops through this assistance, she said.
The journalist was forced to leave the Ukrainian capital Kyiv when the invasion began. She brought her son to safety in Spain, before returning to Lviv to continue her work for the New York Times, among others.
Further eyewitness reports from Ukraine will be broadcast on Thursday evening on RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg at 6.20pm, followed by a TV report at 7.30pm.
