Zelensky asked Trump to come to Ukraine to see with his own eyes what Russia has done to the country. As a $60 billion military aid bill stalls in Congress, his office is courting Republicans, trying to persuade them that helping Ukraine is in America’s national interest.
“I don’t believe that anyone representing the party of Ronald Reagan will abandon Ukraine,” Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s bureau chief, told POLITICO earlier this month.
However, during this time, Ukrainians are striving to be as self-sufficient as possible, increasing their domestic arms production and attempting to diversify their sources of military aid.
As Zelensky publicly worries about the possibility of a Trump presidency, Yermak has sought to strike a more optimistic tone.
“I think, first of all, the people who were on Trump’s team at that time are no longer there,” he told POLITICO at an event in February. “He has a new team. Additionally, Ukraine has bipartisan support and we are in constant discussions with representatives of both parties.”
Parnas, for his part, said he was pessimistic.
“Zelensky and Yermak know that they are not only fighting Russia for their lives, but also against the Republicans,” he said.
“If Trump loses, Ukraine will get all the money and weapons it needs. Russia will be over,” he added. “If Trump wins, things will be very bad.”
Politico
