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Good morning from the Financial Times.

Today is Wednesday, June 8th, and this is your FT News Briefing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had lined an FT conference yesterday. He said this,

First of all, the stale mate is not an option for us.

He praised and criticized his Western allies, and chaos in the nickel market has led to lawsuits.

Plus, our swamp notes editors share their thoughts on President Joe Biden and Democrats as the

U.S. heads towards the midterm elections. I'm Mark Filipino, and here's the news you need to start your day.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says a stale mate with Russia is not an option.

Zelensky was speaking through an interpreter to FT editor Rulahalif yesterday.

He appealed to Western powers for more military support,

but he also criticized what he sees as efforts to explore a ceasefire without involving Kiev.

To find a way out from the stalemate, we need a abiding interest from the West,

supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and our position. There cannot be some talks behind Ukraine's back,

any kinds of expectations from certain countries that we are going to weaken our position.

We need to wait, or perhaps Ukraine is going to be distressed economically,

perhaps Ukraine is going to be instructed infrastructureally, and perhaps Ukraine will be willing

to exceed some concessions, but we have already lost too many people,

simply to cede our territory that is not possible.

That's Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking through an interpreter at the FT's

Global Boardroom Conference.

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