Zelenskyy warns US backing Russia would doom Ukraine’s fight

What happened

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC’s Meet the Press that if the US were to officially back Russia in its war against Ukraine, it would constitute a historic mistake and tragedy that would prevent Ukraine from prevailing. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine would be unable to continue resisting if Washington aligned itself with Moscow.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of US support, saying that without it Ukraine faces severe difficulties. He urged that if the US “officially will take the side of Russia,” the combined power of those two states would end Ukraine’s chances to withstand the invasion. The president singled out former US President Donald Trump, expressing hope he would support Ukraine or at least stay neutral rather than favor Russia.

Regarding Trump’s recent comments calling Zelenskyy harder to deal with than Putin, the Ukrainian leader responded that he values honest and open partners more than deceptive aggressors. He labeled Putin as an aggressor and terrorist responsible for killing civilians, underpinning the moral divide between Ukraine and Russia in this conflict.

Known from the source

• Zelenskyy gave an interview to NBC’s Meet the Press on 18 October 2026.
• Zelenskyy said an official US shift to support Russia would be a historic mistake and tragedy.
• Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would not prevail if the US officially sided with Russia.
• Zelenskyy commented on Trump’s attitude toward Russia and expressed hope Trump would change his decisions regarding Putin.
• Trump signed an executive order on 16 October waiving certain sanctions on Russia under the Graham Act.

What remains unclear

Zelenskyy also framed victory in the war as saving Ukraine’s independence, European direction, and national identity, acknowledging that perceptions of ‘victory’ may vary over time among people enduring a long war. His remarks come amid recent steps by Trump to waive some US sanctions on Russia, actions Zelenskyy indicated were mistaken and harmful for both countries.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify exact wording and context of Zelenskyy’s quotes on US support and Trump’s role from full NBC interview transcript. Confirm details of Trump’s executive order and related sanctions changes with official US government sources. Check background on Trump’s statements about Ukraine’s president and Russia for accuracy and quotation framing.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Ukrainska Pravda English. Open the source.