Zelenskyy: Ukraine Could Not Hold Out if US Officially Sides With Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that if the United States were to officially side with Russia in its war against Ukraine, it would be a historic mistake and a great tragedy, and Ukraine would not be able to hold out. He made the remarks in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press. They come as US President Donald Trump's decisions regarding Russia are causing concern in Kyiv.

Hope for a change in Trump's stance

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine's position is very difficult without US support, and stressed that Ukraine hopes Trump will be on its side or at least "in the middle". By his account, Ukraine has been waiting since the start of Trump's term for him to change his attitude toward Putin. Zelenskyy said he hopes the US president will revise his decisions, which he called mistakes that help neither Ukraine nor the United States.

Commenting on Trump's statement this week that Zelenskyy is harder to deal with than Putin, the Ukrainian leader said he has been "very honest". He said he would rather have open and clear partners than those who are killers, even with a smile on their faces. Zelenskyy rejected any comparison with Putin, calling him an aggressor and a terrorist whose soldiers have killed adults and children. Asked whether Trump is still an ally of Ukraine, he replied: "I hope so."

What victory means

At the end of the interview, Zelenskyy said he is confident Ukraine can win, because truth is on its side. He acknowledged that during a long war people may understand the word "victory" differently, but in his view winning means saving the country, its independence, its European and geopolitical choice, all its rights and Ukrainian identity.

Preceding events

On 16 October, Trump signed an executive order waiving certain sanctions, restrictions and tariffs on Russia provided for under the Graham Act, citing US 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, he said he had had a "highly successful discussion" with Putin and agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.