New aid from the United States will give Ukraine a chance to win the war against Russia. In addition, it will make it possible to stop the Russian offensive on the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, which the Kremlin wants to occupy by 9 May.
This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press programme.
Assistance that gives Ukraine a chance to win
He thanked American political leaders for approving an aid package for Ukraine over the weekend.
– “I think this support will really strengthen the Armed Forces, I pray, and we will have a chance to win if Ukraine really gets the weapons system that we need so much, that thousands of soldiers need so much,” Zelenskyy said.
This was preceded by a decision by the US House of Representatives on Saturday, where a bill to provide $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine was passed by a majority vote.
The House bills are expected to pass through the Senate this week, a move Zelenskyy has been particularly insistent on.
– “We really need to see this through. We have to get the Senate’s approval,” he said on Sunday.
In this way, Ukraine wants to speed up the process, Zelenskyy said, “so that as soon as possible – not in six months – we can get tangible help for the soldiers on the front line so that they can move forward,” he added.
Notably, in his statement after the House passed the bills, President Joe Biden called on the Senate to “quickly send this package to my desk so I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their immediate needs on the battlefield.”
US weapons will help stop the attack on Chasiv Yar
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the statement of the Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyy, that Russia is going to capture Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region by 9 May. In addition, Russian troops intend to launch a counter-offensive in June 2024, he said.
However, US assistance may prevent these plans from being implemented.
– By 9 May, Russia expects to occupy Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine… “I expect that we will withstand, that weapons will arrive on time, and we will be able to repel the enemy, and then break Russia’s plans for a full-scale counter-offensive in June,” the Ukrainian president said.
Ukraine’s urgent needs
In an interview with NBC News, Zelenskyy also spoke about these urgent needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, telling the host that Ukraine needs long-range weapons “so that we don’t lose people on the front line, because we have losses because we can’t reach that far. Our weapons are not that long-range”.
– We also need air defence. These are our priorities at the moment,” he added.
When asked whether this assistance would help Ukraine win the war or just prolong it, Zelenskyy said:
– It depends on when we actually get the weapons on the ground. As you said, Kristen, if we get them in six months – well, we have (already – Ed.) stalled for six months, and we are suffering losses in several areas. Losses in people, in equipment,” the President of Ukraine said.
The Ukrainian head of state added that “now we have a chance to stabilise the situation and seize the initiative, which is why we need weapons systems.”
– “If the US is calling for a specific timeframe for the war, it all depends on how soon they receive this assistance. There are so many variables, so many factors,” the president lamented.
Trump’s influence on the war if re-elected
Zelenskyy also responded to recent reports that former US President Donald Trump, if elected, would pressure Ukraine to give up part of its territory to Russia in exchange for an end to the war, saying: “I have little faith in rumours and various information.”
He also expressed doubts that Putin would ever agree to such a settlement and stick to it, reminding us that “Putin can never be trusted.”
– The strategy to end the war should not be based on words spoken by Putin or other people around him, but on something very concrete, something very tangible in Ukraine, independent and democratic,” he said.
The President is confident that everyone is interested in Ukraine’s independence.
– All political leaders are also interested in Ukraine being independent, sovereign and democratic. Both Republicans and Democrats are interested in this,” Zelenskyy stressed.
The US army does not need to fight, Ukraine does
NBC points out that for several weeks, Zelenskyy has been expressing an urgent need for arms and supplies to continue to defend Ukraine from Russian attacks.
During the months that the US did not provide aid to Ukraine, Ukrainian military stockpiles were depleted, and in February, the Defence Forces had to retreat from a key eastern city, Avdiivka.
Despite this, on Sunday, President Zelenskyy commented on some complaints that the US has invested too much money in the war and will continue to do so: “(Americans – Ed.) are primarily defending freedom and democracy across Europe.”
– The US army does not need to fight now to defend NATO countries. That’s what the Ukrainians are doing. And it’s just ammunition provided by the civilised world, and I think it’s a good decision,” the Head of State said.