Zelensky warns Europe alone cannot cope with helping Kiev without U.S. support

MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - The cessation of the United States' support for Ukraine cannot be fully compensated by Europe, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said.

"Europe alone will not cope if U.S. support is suspended. Neither with weapons nor financially. If all of Europe united, it could give enough support to Ukraine, but the U.S. has influence and when the signals are not very positive, they have the same influence on some European leaders," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying in an interview with German broadcaster ARD published on Monday.

"So I think that if the United States does not, God forbid, provide support, it will affect a united Europe," he said.

That would result in a shortage of weapons and funding in Ukraine, Zelensky said. "I think that the alliance between the United States and Europe will be lost. [...] This is a signal from the United States, that Europe will remain alone," he said.

"I think that sanctions policy will also fall down. Since the United States, by its supporting Ukraine also influences the sanctions policy of European countries," Zelensky said.

He said he would like Germany to take the lead in this case. "Germany can do this, consolidate the European Union. Many countries have serious economic relations with Germany because it is a powerful European economy. But still, I think that this threat is very high. As this is such a signal. Not good. The passivity of the United States - this is wrong," Zelensky said.