Zelenskiy: US Support Crucial for Ukraine’s War Effort

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated that without U.S. support, his nation “cannot win” the ongoing war against Russia.

In remarks made on Monday, Zelenskiy highlighted the necessity of American military aid, particularly in maintaining air defense and managing combat operations against Russian forces.

He emphasized, “If we are talking about whether we can win without American help, the answer is no,” during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. “Protecting our skies without U.S. support is extremely challenging,” he added. “American missile support for air defense is truly effective. Russia is launching an overwhelming number of drones and missiles.”

“It’s evident that without this assistance, victory is not attainable,” he concluded.

While President Trump has expressed opposition to the bipartisan military aid package initiated by his predecessor, his administration still supplied significant military resources to Ukraine.

Moreover, the U.S. has been vital in providing intelligence to Ukraine and instituting severe sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskiy maintained that despite Russia’s current control of nearly a fifth of Ukraine and recent advances, they have not actually won the war. “In the past two years, Russia has occupied roughly 3,000 kilometers per year, which may explain our challenges in gaining ground,” he explained. “However, the reality is that the cost of these territorial gains is the loss of 400,000 Russian soldiers. Right now, Russia is losing about 41,000 soldiers every month.”

He pointed out a video captured by Ukrainian drones that confirmed Russian casualties.

During a meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, Zelenskiy discussed Ukraine’s 20-point peace proposal, though he took issue with Trump’s suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin desires peace and aims for Ukraine’s recovery.

Zelenskiy appeared uneasy when Trump made this remark during a press conference following their summit. Initially, he raised an eyebrow but later laughed when Trump acknowledged that his viewpoint might be unusual.

“I don’t trust President Putin. He doesn’t want Ukraine to thrive,” Zelenskiy told Fox. “I think he can make those claims to Trump, but that doesn’t reflect reality.”

Despite this, the Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for Russia to provide financial support for rebuilding efforts once the war is over. He also cautioned that Putin has stated intentions of expanding Russia’s reach, showing no signs of pursuing peace.

“Therefore, dialogue is essential, and pressure from President Trump is necessary,” Zelenskiy stated. “He has the ability to influence outcomes, and I believe he is aiming for peace.”