Zelensky on the army of 800 thousand: this is our proposal, not a limitation.

According to ТСН: President Volodymyr Zelensky clarified that the discussed number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is "our proposal from our military."

He emphasized that limiting the defense forces to 800 thousand is not realistic. "This is not a defense force, this is the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our proposal from the military is to have an army size of 800 thousand," noted Zelensky.

Funding for the army

The president also addressed questions about the possibility of self-funding the army in case of a ceasefire:

"No, it is not capable. There will not be enough financial resources. That is why I am dialoguing with partner leaders. Partial funding of our army through international assistance is a guarantee of security for us," the president noted.

Zelensky explained that Ukraine will need years and stable economic development to be able to fund the army independently. He stressed that at the moment, support from international partners is critically important for maintaining the combat readiness and security of the state.

Territorial issues

We remind that the president stated that decisions regarding territorial issues should be made by the Ukrainian people. According to Zelensky, the proposals from the USA regarding Donbas, which effectively reflect the position of the Russian Federation, do not align with Ukraine's interests.

Thus, during the press conference, the president emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine's military power and the need for support from international partners. Ukraine continues to work on strengthening its defense capabilities, taking into account the socio-economic realities that affect its ability to provide for the army.