Ukraine faces brutal human, territorial cost without U.S. aid, Zelenskyy says

“I think without the United States we will suffer great losses. Human and territorial. So, I wouldn't like to consider that. But this is our destiny, our land, our life. One way or another, we will end this war,” he said, adding that roughly $100 billion of the $175 billion U.S. aid was military aid, "most of which was spent in the U.S. on manufacturing American weapons."

This aid was essential to Ukraine's defense and shared Western values.

"We have always believed that this is our shared struggle, that Ukraine is defending our shared values, that we are defending Europe as a whole.... but those who are dying now are Ukrainians." 

Zelenskyy also thanked the American people for their strong support and stressed the importance of the United States' support.

“This is why I say that by giving us weapons, other countries are protecting their own people. But in the Trump administration, U.S. aid has all but stopped.”

Zelenskyy also said that the partial ceasefire in Ukraine announced by the White House in March has never materialized, attributing this to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's lack of trustworthiness and his desire to destroy Ukraine's sovereignty and people.

“Putin can't be trusted. I told that to President Trump many times. So when you ask why the ceasefire isn't working – this is why. Putin never wanted an end to the war. Putin never wanted us to be independent. Putin wants to destroy us completely,” he said.

On March 3, Trump ordered a complete suspension of military aid to Ukraine after his heated Oval Office argument with Zelenskyy.