Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ukraine’s first lady warns of ‘mortal danger’ if West backs down over support

Olena Zelenska said in an interview that ‘if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die’.

Sam Blewett
Saturday 09 December 2023 08:37 GMT
Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace (Jacob King/PA)
Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace (Jacob King/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ukrainians face “mortal danger” if the West backs down over financial support for the resistance against Vladimir Putin’s forces, Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska has warned.

Ms Zelenska argued that people in her country will be left to die if the world gets tired of providing support, in an interview with the BBC, as the UK presses US Republicans to agree to send aid to Kyiv.

In a diplomatic mission to America, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron warned US Republicans that blocking fresh financial backing would be a “Christmas present” for Russian President Mr Putin.

Republicans in the US congress this week blocked a key bill that would have provided billions more in funding for military assistance.

Western allies are growing increasingly concerned about the crucial support for the fight against Russia amid the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House.

Speaking to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Zelenska said: “We really need the help. In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die.

“And if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in