Zelenskyy says Ukraine counts on continued support from US

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said his country counts on continued support from the US.

“I met with @SecBlinken (US Secretary of State Antony Blinken) to thank the United States, President (Joe) Biden, Congress, and the American people for their unwavering support and leadership in supporting Ukraine. We count on continued U.S. support, which is essential for our country,” Zelenskyy said on X.

He said that he informed Blinken and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the key tasks for Ukraine’s military in 2024 and the means required to fulfill them.

Zelenskyy further said that they also talked about further defense cooperation between Ukraine and the US, with a particular emphasis on air defense and long-range capabilities.

“We discussed ways to increase international investment in Ukraine, particularly in defense manufacturing, and emphasized that greater defense cooperation and co-production will increase Ukraine's self-reliance while decreasing its reliance on foreign military and financial aid,” he added.

For his part, Blinken conveyed Biden’s "strong, enduring support" for Ukraine amid Russian airstrikes on the country.

"We see that every day, but we also see the incredible courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the courage and resilience of your security forces," Blinken said, according to a statement by the State Department.

Blinken further said Washington is determined to sustain its support for Ukraine and that they are working “very closely” with the US Congress in this regard.

"I know our European colleagues are doing the same thing. And it’s our determination that, even as you succeed militarily against this Russian onslaught, that you also build a Ukraine for the future, one that can stand strongly on its own two feet militarily, economically, democratically," he added.