Zelensky hopes to receive more U.S. aid shortly, admits political situation in U.S. may impact Ukraine
MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky expects to receive more assistance from the United States soon.
"Assistance [from the U.S.] is needed now [...] It seems to me that we'll receive it in a very short time," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying at a press conference in Kiev on Tuesday.
The U.S.' decision on providing further aid will also send a signal to the European Union regarding its own assistance package, he said.
However, if the U.S. concentrates on domestic policy after the presidential election, it will impact the situation in and around Ukraine, he said.
"I'm not sure that the country's policy, the U.S.' policy toward Ukraine will change. But, nevertheless, we ought to soberly look at the fact that the leader has his influence [...] If the Ukraine policy of the next president, whoever he may be, is different, more reserved or more domestic, more economical, if domestic policy is prioritized, I think that these signals will very seriously impact the developments in Ukraine," Zelensky said.
If Donald Trump becomes the next U.S. president, his policy will definitely be different from that of the current U.S. administration, he said.
The situation in the Middle East is having an adverse impact on the assistance for Ukraine, he said.
"The war in the Middle East [...] is affecting the assistance for Ukraine. The Middle East is no exception, and it's a fact. And dispersing the attention, I've already said that, this information isn't new, means dispersing the world's aid, dispersing consolidation around Ukraine, support on various international platforms, shifting the focus away from the Ukraine issue in information space abroad," Zelensky said.
All this "is having an all-around, very adverse impact on Ukraine's resilience, on our assistance," he said.
When commenting on relations between Ukraine and NATO, Zelensky said that it is impossible to admit only a part of Ukrainian territory to NATO.
"As for NATO, it is the most powerful option for us. But we're not being invited to NATO. And signals about some partial participation are nonsense, to be honest," he said.
Ukraine has never received offers from partners regarding the possible accession to NATO of a part of Ukrainian territory, he said.
"To be honest, I can hardly imagine how this can happen [...] I think that it entails great risks for us," Zelensky said.
If a part of Ukrainian territory joins NATO, it would mean a military conflict between NATO and Russia, he said.
"And the question here is: will NATO countries join the fight for the part of Ukrainian territory that has this or that status in NATO," Zelensky said.