Zelenskyy to CNN: 'We will lose people' without US aid
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Without the help of the United States, Ukraine will lose many people at the front. In addition, the Armed Forces will not be able to achieve new successes on the battlefield and will be forced to retreat, says President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with CNN.
"This year if we don't get anything (from the US - ed.), we will not have any new success," Zelenskyy said.
In addition, the president admitted risks to the "grain corridor", the protection of which also requires "some air defense systems and some other systems."
"Steps, success forward will depend on the USA, yes. Not defending line, not only defending line. Because if you just defend, just defend, you give the possibility to Russia to push you - yes, small steps back... Yes, small steps back, but you -- we will have these steps back. Small one. But when you step back, you lose people. We will lose people," the head of state emphasized.
According to Zelenskyy, time is of the essence, since, as the president said during a press conference on February 25, Russia may launch a new offensive as early as the end of May.
The head of state said that the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi is currently developing two options for the plan of further action:
- If Ukraine receives US aid, it will be able to fight back against Russia
- If not, she will have to focus only on defense
Delay with US aid
On February 13, the US Senate approved a draft law on aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan for 95 billion dollars. In particular, more than 60 billion dollars have been earmarked for Ukraine.
For the bill to enter into force, it still needs to be approved by the US House of Representatives and signed by President Joe Biden.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson spoke against such an initiative. In turn, President Joe Biden called on the House of Representatives to urgently approve the bill.
However, the US House of Representatives announced recess until February 28, thus postponing consideration of aid to Ukraine.
