Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not prevail if US officially sides with Russia
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that if the US were to officially side with Russia in its war against Ukraine, it would be a historic mistake and a huge tragedy, and that Ukraine would be unable to hold out if that happened.
Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press
Details: Zelenskyy was asked whether Ukraine could win the war without the US.
Quote: "Without United States support it's very difficult. But if United States will support Putin, it's historic mistake and big tragedy.... If the United States officially will take the side of Russia, if these two countries will be together, of course we will not prevail and we will not be able to stand."
Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine hopes that Trump will be on its side or at least "in the middle".
He said he hopes that Trump will "change his decisions" regarding Russia, as "it's all mistakes, it will not help us, and it will not help United States".
Quote: "I hope that he will change his decisions, change his attitude to Putin. We waited from the very beginning of his presidential term that he will change his attitude to Putin."
Details: Commenting on a statement made by Trump this week that the Ukrainian president is "more difficult to deal with than Putin", Zelenskyy noted that he has been "very honest" with Trump.
"Maybe it's not very polite… but I'm better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers – even with a smile on their face," he said.
"We can't compare me and Putin. He is an aggressor, he occupied us, his soldiers killed adults and children. He is a terrorist," Zelenskyy added.
Asked whether Trump is still an ally of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said: "I hope so."
Towards the end of the interview, the presenter asked Zelenskyy whether he is confident that Ukraine can win the war. He replied: "Of course, because truth [is] on our side. Of course I understand that during the long war, the attitude to the word 'victory' and the feelings of 'prevailing' may be different between people. But to save the country, to save independence, to save the European choice, the geopolitical choice, and to save all our rights and Ukrainian identity – I think this is to win, and this [is] what we have to do."
Background:
- On 16 October, Trump signed an executive order waiving certain sanctions, restrictions and tariffs on Russia provided for under the Graham Act, saying that this was in the US's national interest. He had until 18 October to introduce new sanctions against Russia.
- On 10 October, Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president who could make a deal with Russia.
- On 9 October, Trump said he had had a "highly successful discussion" with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.
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