President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that his country faces an uphill battle for survival without continued U.S. military assistance.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he told NBC News that it would be "very, very, very difficult" for Ukraine to sustain its fight against Russia and remain secure in the long term without American support. Zelensky stressed that while Ukraine would always fight for its survival, the chances of success would be significantly diminished without help from the United States.
During the interview with NBC’s "Meet the Press," Zelensky also dismissed the idea of negotiating a ceasefire on Russian terms, arguing that Moscow’s goal is to gain time to rebuild its military strength.
He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks a temporary truce to ease international sanctions and prepare for renewed aggression. "This is really what he wants," Zelensky said, emphasizing that any pause in fighting could allow Russia to reinforce its forces.
His remarks come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and its European allies over support for Ukraine.
At the Munich summit, U.S. Vice President JD Vance took a combative tone, criticizing European leaders on multiple fronts, including issues unrelated to the war. In response, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier accused the Trump administration of undermining long-standing partnerships. The widening rift has raised concerns in Europe about the future of Western unity against Russia.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recent statements on Ukraine have unsettled many European leaders.
Asami Terajima
Trump also downplayed criticism from within his party, telling reporters that he had not heard concerns from Senator Roger Wicker, who recently called U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments on Ukraine a "rookie mistake." "I’ll speak to Roger. I’ll speak to Pete. I’ll find out," Trump said.
Despite the shifting U.S. stance, Zelensky remains hopeful that Washington will not abandon Kyiv. He said earlier that he does not believe the U.S. has a concrete plan for peace and insisted that Ukraine must be included in any negotiations between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking at the Munich conference, he suggested that Trump could exert pressure on Putin if he chose to stand firmly with Ukraine. "And if he will choose our side, and if he will not be in the middle, I think he will pressure and he will push Putin to stop the war. He can do it," Zelensky said.
The Kyiv Independent
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