President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s evening statement

Dear Ukrainians,

Today, many are asking the same question—what will happen next with U.S. aid? I have instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, intelligence leaders, and diplomats to contact their counterparts in the U.S. and obtain official information. People should not have to guess—Ukraine and America deserve a respectful dialogue and a clear position from one another, especially when it comes to protecting lives in the midst of a full-scale war.

Of course, we in Ukraine have been receiving various signals for weeks now. There has already been a precedent of aid being halted—humanitarian aid, energy support, and even military assistance were suspended at the end of January. But back then, we managed to restore everything quickly. We saw the risks, which is why our military and security services have developed an action plan for any scenario.

This is not 2022—our resilience is stronger now, we have defensive capabilities. However, maintaining normal partnership relations with the U.S. is crucial for achieving a real end to this war. None of us want an endless war. Ukraine will always be grateful to America for all the support that has been provided, that is being provided, and that continues to uphold the now fragile foundations of security in Europe. This is not just about our country—it concerns all of Europe. We seek constructive cooperation and strong partnerships.

We can only regret what happened in the White House instead of our negotiations, but we must find the strength to move forward, to respect one another as we have always respected America, Europe, and all our partners, and to work together to bring peace closer. I thank everyone who supports Ukraine in this.

Today, I have already spoken with the President of Finland, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of Greece, the Prime Minister of Croatia, the NATO Secretary General, and Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s CDU party, which recently won elections in the Bundestag. Their clear support for Ukraine—thank you.

There is also very important news from the European Commission regarding significant funding for Europe’s defense. For us, this means additional air defense systems, extra missile systems, and enhanced protection for our cities, villages, and positions. All of this creates a strong foundation for further efforts to end the war.

We continue consultations, and new joint steps will follow. Ukraine deserves peace. Ukrainians deserve respect.

And lastly, we know that the Russians have not changed their positions or demands regarding Ukraine. They will demand a reduction of our army, seek a legal renunciation of our territories, and push for significant political deformation of Ukraine by weakening our Constitution. But I will say this – as long as we all in Ukraine stand together, firmly and resolutely, as long as we are here, they will not succeed. Peace will be just and honorable. Glory to Ukraine!

Ukraine Front Line