Zelensky urges Trump not to abandon Ukraine to Putin as US pledges $500m in military aid
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‘We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now,’ says Ukrainian leader. Donald Trump must keep backing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition to ensure the country is not “erased off the map”, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said during a final meeting of Kyiv’s allies before the president-elect returns to the White House.
![[Donald Trump recently expressed sympathy with Vladimir Putin’s claims that Nato is expanding towards Russia]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/12/12/newFile-3.jpg)
Speaking at the 25th and final meeting of the Ukraine Contact Defence Group (UCDG) at the Ramstein air base in Germany, where more than 50 of Kyiv’s allies discussed how best to combat Mr Putin’s invasion, Mr Zelensky said it would be “crazy” for Mr Trump to alter the US’ support.
“We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we’ve created,” Mr Zelensky said. “No matter what’s going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased of the map.”.
His comments followed concern among officials present at the US-organised meeting that it could be their last if Mr Trump does not seek to continue supporting Ukraine. Polish officials earlier this week suggested Thursday’s meeting could be the final iteration of the UCDG.
German defence minister Boris Pistorius urged that the gatherings, aimed at speeding up and synchronising arms deliveries to Ukraine, was best kept under US leadership. “And if those in the United States now decide not to maintain this format any longer, then we will have to make our own decisions,” he added.
