The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, pleaded with the Western world not to forget about her nation, as without the help of allies in the UK, European Union and US, the war-torn country faces devastation.
In an impassioned interview to be aired during the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme at 9am on December 10, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned her fellow citizens are in “mortal danger” of being left to die.
Interviewed the day after the US Senate blocked a bill set to deliver much-needed military aid to the war-torn nation, Ms Zelenska told the BBC: “We really need the help. In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die. And if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die.”
She continued: “It hurts us greatly to see the signs that the passionate willingness to help may fade.
“It is a matter of life for us. Therefore, it hurts to see that.”
On Tuesday, Republican senators blocked a funding bill including financial aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
In exchange for supporting this bill, the politicians are requesting US President Joe Biden to tighten regulations on their country’s southern border – and aren’t yet satisfied with what the American leader has offered.
Within the $111billion (£88bn) supplemental security bill, more than $60bn (£47.8bn) was meant to be support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian invading troops since February 2022.
Disappointed by the delay in providing help to Kyiv, Mr Biden warned history would “judge harshly those who turned their back on freedom’s cause”.
Failing to support Ukraine, he also said, would be a “gift” to Vladimir Putin – words echoed also by UK Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron during his visit to New York this week.
The British minister urged the US not to give the Russian President a “Christmas present” by blocking military aid for Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the US has been the top donor of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, followed by Germany and the UK.
Almost two years into the war, Ukraine is facing not just Western allies experiencing war fatigue but also being distracted by another, more recent conflict.
In November, Mr Zelensky acknowledged the war between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7 was “taking away the focus” from the situation in his country.
