Zelenskyy confirmed asking for "ammunition, not a ride." Four years ago, I got pushback for reporting that.
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- In February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his famous line "I need ammunition — not a ride," rejecting a U.S. offer to evacuate Kyiv as Russian forces advanced, symbolizing his resolve during the early days of the Russian invasion.
- The quote quickly became a global symbol of Ukrainian defiance, despite initial denials and pushback from the Biden administration and National Security Council, who questioned the accuracy of the report.
- The Associated Press, relying on a senior U.S. intelligence official as a source, stood by the story despite intense pressure for retraction, with multiple news outlets eventually corroborating the quote after the Ukrainian Embassy in Britain tweeted it.
- The war has since evolved into a prolonged conflict marked by entrenched fighting and high casualties, defying early predictions of a swift Ukrainian defeat and highlighting Zelenskyy's leadership in contrast to other leaders who fled during crises.
- U.S. intelligence agencies later acknowledged underestimating Zelenskyy's determination, even as they correctly anticipated the Russian invasion, underscoring the complexities of the conflict and the resilience of Ukraine's leadership.