Zelenskyy compares Russians who avoid the truth of Putin's war to 'alcoholics' who 'don't admit that they are alcoholic'

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Russians to "alcoholics [who] don't admit that they are alcoholic."
• He said that Russians need to break through the information barrier and understand the full history of their country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Russians who avoid the truth of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine to "alcoholics" in denial.

They are "alcoholics [who] don't admit that they are alcoholic," Zelenskyy told The Atlantic in an interview published Friday.

He noted that one of the main factors in helping Ukraine win this war is to break through the Russian information barrier, The Atlantic reported. To do so, Zelenskyy said Russian citizens don't just need the facts of what is happening in the war, rather, they need to have an understanding of the country's history.

"They are afraid to admit guilt," Zelenskyy said, according to The Atlantic, referring to what Russia has done to its "neighbors" throughout history. "They have to learn to accept the truth."

He said Russians need to choose their leaders, and that they should choose leaders that they trust.

"Leaders who can then come in and say, 'Yes, we did that.' That's how it worked in Germany," Zelenskyy said.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.