Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he may mobilize 500,000 more troops to replenish Kyiv’s forces against Russia — while insisting he’s “confident the US will not let us down’’ on added aid.
Zelensky, 45, has asked his military to give him a more detailed plan on the “very sensitive matter” of adding more troops before he grants them their wish for additional soldiers.
If the plan goes forward, it would cost Ukraine $13.4 billion, the leader said.
The US, which has already supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in cash and equipment for the war, would fork over another $61.4 billion under a bill stymied for now in Congress.
Ukraine had around 800,000 troops as of October. Including the National Guard, that number swells to around 1 million.
Russia, which sparked the war when it invaded its neighbor in February 2022, currently has around 1.32 million soldiers, after adding nearly 170,000 this month.
Zelensky said the conflict could last until 2025, although “no one has an answer” really to its ending.
“We have thoughts and ideas, and ideas can be far from reality,” he said.
He was quick to praise his forces for keeping the line tight while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army has failed to occupy more of Ukraine’s land.
In addition, Zelensky insisted the financial support promised by the US “will be fulfilled,” adding he is also confident the European Union will provide $50 billion euros, or around $55 billion.
“I am confident that the United States will not betray us, that what we agreed on in the United States will be fulfilled, fully,” Zelensky said, according to Ukrinform.
“We have achieved one victory regarding the European Union,” he continued, referring to Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU. “As for the 50 billion euros, I am sure that we have already achieved this. It’s just a matter of time. The first 1.5 billion, I think, will be this week. And I’m sure that the decision on 50 billion will be made in the near future, when they [EU leaders] gather [for a summit].”
EU leaders are scheduled to meet for a special summit in February to go over its budget for 2024 to 2027.
Zelensky’s remarks on US support come a week after he visited the States to talk to with President Biden and Republican senators, many of whom did not appear to support more aid.
The Ukrainian leader insisted they “heard one another” during his trip to DC.
With Post wires