Zelenskyy on defence sackings, a possible drone deal, and a 'long war'

In the ornate baroque surroundings of the Mariinskii Palace in central Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed out honours to military medics and civilian health workers to mark their contribution to the nation's war effort.We had been invited to attend the ceremony before the Ukrainian president began a wide-ranging interview with Sky News. As we walked in the palace grounds, Mr Zelenskyy told me that the medical workers were as important to the war effort as the soldiers on the front lines, the people who make the country's weapons, and the farmers who feed the nation.Dressed in a trademark black T-shirt and black fatigues, the president seemed relaxed, confident and focused on the key issues he has to deal with on a daily basis: successfully prosecuting the war with Russia, ensuring the government and the military work in tandem, and maintaining strong links with allied governments across the world. Our meeting was arranged on the eve of his latest trip abroad to meet allied nations, and follows a tough week of domestic politics for the Ukrainian leader. Faced with a deteriorating relationship between his defence minister and the head of the armed forces, he took the unusual step of sa...