Zelenskyy: Ukraine Needs Strong U.S.-European Support to End the War Without Compromising Its Dignity

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged for enhanced cooperation between the United States and European countries in order to bring an end to the conflict without sacrificing Ukraine's dignity. Speaking to German broadcaster ZDF, he reiterated that Ukraine will not accept any territorial concessions from Russia and highlighted the importance of acquiring Germany's Taurus cruise missiles.

The remarks came amid U.S. midterm elections, where Zelenskyy expressed optimism that the altered congressional balance would encourage more robust support for Ukraine from Washington.

Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of stronger collaboration between the U.S. and European capitals in order to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin's influence. He argued that a reinforced American assistance, on par with that provided by European nations, could put pressure on Moscow and hasten negotiations towards a potential resolution.

He recalled how European and American officials had previously cautioned Ukraine against escalation following its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the seizure of certain parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Despite those warnings, Russia launched a full-scale invasion eight years later, which Zelenskyy rejected as an argument for withdrawing from Donbas.

Ukraine's acquisition of and testing of Germany's Taurus cruise missiles was another topic Zelenskyy addressed. While acknowledging the sensitivity of the issue, he argued that the partnership would benefit both countries. He cited Germany's IRIS-T air defense systems as an example, which have proven their effectiveness in Ukraine, bolstering the country's international reputation and creating long-term orders for German industry.

The President specifically mentioned the need for additional capabilities to target Russian missile launch sites, especially when U.S.-made interceptors are insufficient. Zelenskyy clarified that the targeted sites are military launch facilities used against Ukraine, not civilian infrastructure or other non-military targets.