MWE Correspondent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude to the United States and European countries for their continued support in defending Ukraine against Russia’s military offensive, saying assistance from both sides of the Atlantic has been crucial to the country’s survival.
Zelensky said that without American assistance, thousands more Ukrainians could have been killed in Russian strikes, while millions more could have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge abroad.
He stressed that Ukraine’s repeated expressions of gratitude to Washington were sincere, explaining that his government wanted to ensure American officials and citizens understood how much their support meant to the Ukrainian people.
“We always thank America. And we mean it,” Zelensky said, noting that he sometimes repeated his appreciation several times in a single speech to make the message clear to those who believed Ukraine had not expressed enough gratitude.
However, the Ukrainian leader also emphasised that American assistance alone would not have been sufficient to sustain Ukraine’s resistance. He credited Germany, other European countries and the European Union with playing an equally important role in helping the country withstand Russia’s military campaign.
According to Zelensky, European military, financial and humanitarian assistance has helped Ukraine protect its cities, maintain essential public services and support people affected by the conflict.
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He argued that without European assistance, Russian forces could have caused even greater destruction across Ukrainian cities and villages, leaving more communities devastated and increasing the humanitarian consequences of the war.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries have provided Kyiv with weapons, air defence systems, ammunition, financial assistance and humanitarian aid. The support has been intended to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory, protect civilians and sustain its economy during the prolonged conflict.
The United States has been a major contributor to Ukraine’s defence, while European governments and EU institutions have supplied military equipment, provided financial assistance and supported Ukrainian refugees. European countries have also faced the economic and security consequences of the war, including increased defence spending and efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies.
The conflict has displaced millions of Ukrainians, damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted economic activity. Attacks on energy facilities and urban areas have repeatedly raised concerns about civilian safety, electricity supplies and the country’s ability to maintain essential services, particularly during winter.
Zelensky’s remarks highlight Ukraine’s dependence on continued international cooperation as the war persists. Maintaining support from Washington and European capitals remains important to Kyiv’s military planning, reconstruction efforts and broader diplomatic strategy.
At the same time, the scale and duration of Western assistance have generated political debates in donor countries over public spending, military commitments and the long-term strategy for ending the conflict.
For Ukraine, the challenge is to sustain its defence while seeking a settlement that protects its sovereignty and security. For its international partners, the central question remains how to support Ukraine while managing the financial, political and security implications of a war that continues to shape relations between Russia and Western countries.
