Interview with President Zelenskyy on U.S. support, cost of war, and future of Ukraine

In an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the case for continued U.S. support as Congress weighs another $24 billion in aid to Ukraine.

"We have the same values – freedom and democracy – and that is why we are fighting against Russia,” Zelenskyy said, speaking English. He stressed that Russia’s war is not limited to the battlefield. “They killed our people — women, men. You saw it. They deported children. They are bombing civilians,” he said. “What is it? What will be next?”

Zelenskyy is in the U.S. to take part in a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The Russian Federation has a seat on the council. Afterwards he plans to travel to Washington to meet with President Joe Biden and members of Congress.