Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning about his country’s ability to withstand Russia’s ongoing assault, saying Ukraine’s chances of survival would be slim without continued support from the United States.
His remarks came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin—marking Trump’s first significant diplomatic move in a war he has repeatedly vowed to end quickly.
Speaking in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Zelensky acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “It will probably be very, very, very difficult,” he admitted. “Of course, in any difficult situation, there’s always a chance, but without support from the United States, our chances of survival will be very low.”
Trump’s calls with the two leaders on Wednesday focused on the ongoing war and potential paths toward a resolution. However, his comments following the discussions have raised concerns in Kyiv.
Trump stated that he did not believe it was realistic for Ukraine to join NATO and suggested that reclaiming all of its lost territory was unlikely—positions that align more closely with Moscow’s interests than Ukraine’s long-standing demands.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—following the annexation of Crimea in 2014—Kyiv has been clear about its objectives: Russia must withdraw from all occupied territory, and Ukraine must either join NATO or receive equivalent security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
Zelensky remains deeply skeptical of Putin’s intentions. He argued that the Russian leader is not seeking genuine peace but rather a ceasefire that would serve as a strategic pause for Moscow to regroup.
“This is really what he wants,” Zelensky warned. “He wants a pause—to prepare, to train, and to have some sanctions lifted because of a ceasefire.”
Trump described his conversation with Putin as a “good conversation” that lasted over an hour, while the Kremlin stated it went on for nearly 90 minutes. His call with Zelensky reportedly lasted about an hour, with Trump later summarizing it as having “gone very well.”