Zelenskyy: Russian army in Ukraine tripled, lack of security guarantees poses threat to Europe

“As of now, 608 thousand Russian military troops are on the territory of Ukraine. So, that is three times more deployed than the contingent that invaded us at the beginning of 2022. So if somebody says there is enough aid, please compare what was back then and what is going on now,” Zelenskyy said.

At the beginning of the Russian invasion, America's assistance was 90%, and today what the Ukrainian military has on the battlefield is 40% of Ukrainian production, about 40% of the US, and slightly less than the US - Europe.

“That is a huge difference. And when somebody says how you are holding on? We hold on because of a serious increase in domestic production and increase in production in Europe and also increase in production in the United States of America. But that is not sufficient, because we have multiplied our increases. Europe did not follow such tempo,” the president said.

Zelenskyy added that Russia was also growing in arms production. Currently, there are about 30 military factories in Russia, while 45 - in Europe. But Russia produces almost twice as much as Europe.

“He is investing everything into it. But Europe is not investing sufficiently, and that also affects. Despite the fact that Europe has more technological capabilities... And when you don't have the strong security guarantees, and the volumes of aid will decrease, we will be forced to count on ourselves and Europe, and that is not enough,” Zelenskyy said.

That is why, in his opinion, Europe and the United States need to be in an alliance.

“How do you think, if there are no strong security guarantees, no NATO, no military contingent.. If Putin comes back, and he will definitely come back with an army 10 times more than the grouping he had at the beginning of 2022? Because it is already almost 4.5 times more than it was... Why he will come back? For the full occupation of all countries that are former republics of USSR, that is number 1... And then he will do what he has done with our Crimea - he will be coming to other EU and NATO countries to stand there to make ultimatums, tho make demands to the countries,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Security guarantees for Ukraine

Earlier, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was doing everything possible to end the war this year. Ending the war is a common goal of Ukraine and its partners, not Russia.

Zelenskyy also suggested that Trump might be the first leader to visit Ukraine by plane after a full-scale Russian invasion.