“I have not heard Trump say that he will cancel aid and that he will not support Ukraine. He says so many things (…) I am not sure that Trump, if elected, will decide not to support Ukraine”, stressed the Ukrainian President at a press conference with the Nordic prime ministers in Reykjavik, after a joint meeting.
Zelensky assured that he is aware of “all the risks” of a hypothetical suspension of US support, although he recalled that it does not depend only on the will of the US President, but also of Congress, and added that he has the majority support in Europe. “Not supporting Ukraine would be a great victory for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and a great loss for the West”, he maintained.
Zelensky also expressed concern about the alleged presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia, guaranteeing that there are already 3,000 there and that “soon” that number will rise to 12,000, citing information from Ukrainian intelligence. The Ukrainian head of state also criticized Iranian aid and singled out China as “the big problem”. “Russia would not be able to wage a full-scale war in Europe without China’s help,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.
The visit to Reykjavik was part of the fourth summit between the Nordic countries and Ukraine, at which Zelensky presented his so-called Victory Plan, which was supported by the heads of government of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The Ukrainian president criticized the misinformation about the plan – which includes the proposal that Ukraine be formally invited to join NATO, among other things – and those who describe it as unrealistic, arguing that the initiative is crucial for the whole of Europe.
Zelensky also called for the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia “that actually work” and highlighted the need to equip new brigades and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense before winter arrives. The Nordic prime ministers also agreed to stress the need to strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry. Zelensky arrived in Reykjavik today and will address the annual Nordic Council session in the Icelandic capital on Tuesday, which will focus on peace and security in the Arctic region.
*With Lusa
