Zelensky calls for continued American support during the Trump administration

As Russia’s war in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes his country’s hopes for continued American support even during the new Trump administration.

“We are awaiting the inauguration of the American president. I believe the whole world is waiting because the United States is a strategic partner in global stability,” Zelenskyy said this week during a joint press conference in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

President Zelenskyy described the U.S. as “the largest donor supporting Ukraine in its fight for survival against Russian aggression” and expressed optimism for deepened cooperation under the principle of “peace through strength.” He also noted that his government is already coordinating with Washington on possible meetings with President-elect Trump, who takes office on Monday.

“Our teams are working on the details of this crucial discussion. We want to end this war, but under the conditions of a just peace,” he said.

Ukraine’s main focus in upcoming peace negotiations will be securing strong and comprehensive security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.

President-elect Trump has expressed skepticism about continued U.S. military support for Kyiv, repeatedly pledging to end the war even before taking office on January 20. However, in recent days, his aides have said the new timeline for ending the war is within the first 100 days of his administration, by the end of April.

Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State, said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, “Even if the conflict ends, Ukraine must have the capability to defend itself.” He added that this is a matter of long-term security and stability for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Tusk, standing alongside Zelenskyy in Warsaw, said the best security guarantee for Ukraine would be membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions. However, he noted that the idea of Ukraine joining NATO remains “controversial in some countries,” making it vital for the Western alliance to provide Ukraine with a tangible solution to ensure peace in Europe.

Ukraine cannot engage in “games” by reducing the size of its military, President Zelenskyy also said, rejecting the notion of doing so.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a strong defensive army is “the only guarantee of security” before any potential peace negotiations with Russia. His remarks were in response to reports from Bloomberg News that Russian President Vladimir Putin may request the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump to push Ukraine to cut ties with NATO and accept a “neutral country” status with a limited military.

Highlighting the current strength of Ukraine’s army, Zelenskyy noted that it consists of 880,000 troops tasked with countering approximately 600,000 Russian forces concentrated in specific regions. He also emphasized that Ukraine produces over 30% of its military equipment, including drones, and urged international allies and partners to invest in Ukraine’s military production.

Meanwhile, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues with daily airstrikes from both sides. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed in Russian attacks, alongside significant casualties among Ukrainian and Russian forces since the war began in February 2022.

One of the proposed options for security guarantees is French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of deploying European forces to Ukraine. During a visit to Warsaw, Zelenskyy confirmed that he had discussed this proposal, describing it as a potential element of broader security guarantees for Ukraine. He suggested that an international contingent involving Ukraine’s allies and strategic partners could play a crucial role but stressed that this step alone would not suffice.

Zelenskyy also proposed sending Western instructors to Ukraine to develop a comprehensive plan to prepare and strengthen units on the ground. He announced plans to discuss this idea with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited Kyiv with a pledge to help secure Ukraine’s safety. Britain and Ukraine also agreed on a “100-Year Partnership” treaty covering defense, science, energy, and trade.

Other security guarantees highlighted by President Zelenskyy include additional sanctions, continuous arms deliveries, and investments in the defense industry. He called for urgent international action, including the use of frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine’s defense. “The strongest support for the Ukrainian army would be the allocation of $250 billion from frozen Russian assets to purchase the weapons Ukraine urgently needs,” he said.

Polish and Ukrainian leaders embraced Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union as part of the peace process. Poland, which currently holds the EU presidency, reiterated its commitment to accelerating Ukraine’s European integration. Prime Minister Tusk described the EU presidency as an opportunity to break the deadlock and expedite Ukraine’s accession.

“We will work unconditionally with Ukraine and our European partners to accelerate this great and essential task,” he said.

Tusk emphasized that Ukraine’s EU membership would enhance European security, and he pledged to make the issue a priority. “We will break the deadlock on this matter,” he stated during a joint press conference. “We will accelerate the accession process.”

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