Munich: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed that U.S. support is vital for his country’s survival against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
His remarks came during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, set to air on Sunday, with a preview released on Friday.
Zelensky acknowledged that without backing from the United States, Ukraine’s chances of withstanding Russia’s offensive would be slim. "It will be extremely difficult. There is always a chance, but without U.S. support, our chances of survival are very low," he stated.
The comments follow separate phone conversations U.S. President Donald Trump held with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the week. These calls mark Trump’s first major diplomatic effort regarding the war, which he has pledged to resolve swiftly.
Speaking about his discussions, Trump described his conversation with Putin as “good” and lasting over an hour, while the Kremlin reported it was closer to 90 minutes. Trump’s call with Zelensky reportedly lasted about an hour and was described by Trump as going “very well.”
However, Trump signaled a shift in U.S. policy, expressing doubt over Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and suggesting that reclaiming all of its occupied territories was unlikely. His remarks come as Ukraine continues to demand Russia’s full withdrawal and seeks either NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
Zelensky voiced skepticism over Putin’s intentions, warning that the Russian leader’s call for negotiations was a strategy to gain a temporary ceasefire, lift sanctions, and rebuild his forces. “Putin is seeking a pause — not peace. He wants to regroup, train his troops, and push for sanctions relief under the cover of a ceasefire,” Zelensky warned.
