Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky claims that he believes his country has a “low chance” without US military aid and that he still trusts President Trump.
Zelensky, 47, worried that without US support, Ukraine could be vulnerable to another attack from the Russians in the coming years.
“It's probably very, very, very, very difficult,” Zelensky told NBC's “Meet the Press” in a pre-tape interview that aired Sunday when asked about Ukraine's chances without the US. Ta. “In all difficult circumstances, you have a chance. But we have [a] Low chance – Low chance to survive without [the] Support from the US”
“I don't want to think about it,” he added. “Yes, we have to think about it.”
Since Russia's uninvasive invasion of adjacent Ukraine nearly three years ago, the US has brought billions of dollars worth of critical military aid to Kiev. With its support, Ukraine appears to have survived that possibility much longer and far longer than was thought to be possible.
Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine has dramatically strengthened its production of its own domestic military hardware since then, but “that's not enough.”
To plead Trump and appeal to his more transactional instincts, Zelensky proposed a contract by the US to utilize Ukraine's vast mineral resources as a means of paying for American support.
“I trust President Trump, because he is the president of the United States. Your people, your people, voted for him. I respect their choices, and I am with President Trump. We'll work together,” Zelensky said of Trump.
Trump has made the decision to mediate a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. Last week he announced a call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying negotiations would begin “quickly.”
The president later announced a call with Zelensky. Zelensky later admitted that the snub was “not comfortable.” Zelensky also confirmed reports that he trusted the Kremlin tyrant during the call and then advised Trump.
“I told him he was a liar,” Zelensky recalls. “And he said, 'I think my feelings are that he is ready for these negotiations.' And I said to him, 'No, he's a liar. He's a peace “I don't want to.'' But I think he's a bit scared of President Trump. ”
Zelensky added that Trump has a “opportunity” and that the 47th president believes “can push Putin into peace talks.”
“I think he can do it, but don't trust him. Don't trust Putin. Don't trust just the words about the ceasefire,” Zelensky further warned, pointing to Putin's record of unreliableness. .
Last week, Trump sent Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky to discuss the country's mineral trade. Special President of Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg is tasked with resolving deals between the two fighting countries.
The Trump administration has also begun preparing for negotiations in Saudi Arabia about the end of the war.
One red line in Zelensky is his claim that Ukraine will be included in negotiations for the final deal.
“I will never accept any decisions between the US and Russia regarding Ukraine. And our people, never,” emphasized Zelensky. “No no[t] A world leader who can really do business with Putin without us. ”
When asked whether Trump or Vice President JD Vance had assurances that Ukraine “has an equal seat at the negotiation table,” Zelenkie said, “Yeah, honestly, we have one.” That's what I understood. [a] A general view on that. ”
Ukrainian leaders also appeared to have ruled out the possibility that he, though he had, officially transfers the territory to Russia. It was previously recognized Kiev does not have the military power necessary to regain all the land.
“Judicially, we don’t recognize everyone and standards. [the] Constitutional law that recognizes our occupied territory [as] Russia's territory,” Zelensky said. “We never do that.”
That principle also applies to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Zelensky said that for some territory, “it has to be returned diplomatically.”
Zelensky also warned that the US withdrawal from NATO would destroy a powerful military alliance.
“The risk of Russia taking over Europe is 100%,” he said.
“We know he didn't succeed in occupying us, so we don't know where he's going. We believe it, so this could be Poland and Lithuania. There is a risk. I believe Putin will go to war with NATO,” Zelensky said, adding that Putin is waiting for “NATO to weaken.”
“[I] We believe the US will not take away any troops from Europe or troops from Europe to seriously weaken NATO and the continent of Europe,” he added. “Putin definitely expects that.”
