Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs weapons from allies to continue defense against Russia

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine urgently needs artillery and air defenses from its allies in order to continue defending itself from Russia, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejecting the idea that the war had reached a stalemate two years on from Russia’s invasion.

Speaking to NBC News on Sunday from the sidelines of the “Ukraine. Year 2024” forum in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to wage a war farther into Europe, toward Poland and the Baltic states. Saturday marked two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, which has seen 31,000 soldiers killed in the conflict — a tally Zelenskyy shared on Sunday at the forum.

“If the world will not stop him, he will do it till 2030,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the near certainty that Putin will secure another presidential term.

When discussing the Ukrainian military’s recent loss of the key city of Avdiivka, Zelenskyy avoided directly blaming the retreat on a lack of ammunition from Ukraine’s key allies, but stressed the need to rearm and destroy Russia’s air fleet after the country dropped 3,200 bombs in the area, he said.

Zelenskyy wants his allies to know that if they are ready to provide Ukraine with air defenses, he can use it to save “civilians, historical centers, hospitals, and also it can defend [against] Russians and defeat also this fleet.”

“So, if partners are ready to do it — not so slow way — stop being afraid of Russia,” he said. “If they are ready, we will have success. If not, they will continue, continue, continue [to] attack us.”

Zelenskyy said he hopes the U.S. wants Ukraine to win the war, as there is no alternative to trusting the U.S. will deliver on promises of aid.

“We count on our partners, and I hope that it’s not only