Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine has little chance of surviving Russia’s assault without U.S. support. His remarks come after phone calls between U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week.
Zelenskyy made the statement during an interview with NBC’s "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker," set to air in full on Sunday. An excerpt released on Friday revealed his concerns about Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s offensive without continued American assistance.
"Probably it will be very, very, very difficult. And of course, in all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have low chance—low chance to survive without support of the United States," Zelenskyy said.
His comments come amid uncertainty over U.S. military aid, with Trump pushing European allies to take on more of the financial burden. The former president has suggested that Washington should reassess its commitments, while critics argue that scaling back support could embolden Moscow.
Meanwhile, Trump held separate phone calls with both Zelenskyy and Putin earlier this week, though details of the discussions remain undisclosed. His administration has yet to confirm any policy shifts regarding Ukraine.
With Ukraine’s war effort heavily reliant on Western backing, Zelenskyy’s plea underscores Kyiv’s fears of a potential reduction in U.S. support.
Read next
16:15
The Netherlands will deliver a 100 drone-detection radars and 20 medical evacuation vehicles to Ukraine under a new €175 million ($202 million) military aid package, boosting its ongoing support for Kyiv ahead of the NATO summit this week.
15:42
A Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least nine people and injured dozens, damaging civilian infrastructure including schools and a hospital.
01:02
Uk & Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a new agreement aimed at increasing Ukraine’s production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) when they met in London on Monday.
17:27
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
14:52
Italy & Russia
Italy has frozen Russian oligarchs' assets worth €2.3 billion ($2.6 billion) since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, as part of European Union sanctions, with additional seizures targeting Iranian-linked companies accused of aiding Moscow.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment