KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his certainty on Tuesday that the United States will fulfill its promise to provide further financial aid to Ukraine in its ongoing battle against Russia. At an end-of-year news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in the support from the United States while rejecting the notion that Ukraine might lose the war.

Zelenskyy asserted that Russia had failed to achieve any of its objectives over the course of the year, despite Ukraine facing numerous challenges following the unsuccessful counteroffensive. Kyiv had deployed Western military equipment in the attempt to make progress along the 1,000-kilometer front line but fell short of making a substantial impact.

Although the U.S. Congress left for the holidays without finalizing a deal to provide $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, Zelenskyy remained optimistic, stating, "I am confident that the U.S. will not let us down, and that what we have agreed upon will be fulfilled." The European Union has also delayed its plan to provide Ukraine with $54.5 billion, following a veto by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Western support, particularly from the United States, is crucial for Ukraine's fight against a better-equipped Russia. While Russia's forces still outgun and outnumber Kyiv's, Ukraine has received additional U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air systems and advanced NASAMS anti-aircraft systems, bolstering its defense against potential Russian missile attacks. These weapons will also aid in protecting Ukraine's power grid during the winter season.

Zelenskyy expressed optimism about continued military and financial assistance from European Union countries, but was less hopeful about Ukraine's prospects of joining NATO. He stated that NATO remained the most powerful option for Ukraine, but no solid offer had been received from any partner thus far. He added, "It is hard to imagine at this point how this can happen."

Regarding Ukraine's military capabilities, Zelenskyy revealed that the country's military aspires to mobilize up to an additional 500,000 troops. However, he emphasized the need for detailed plans and considerations before deciding on such a sensitive matter. The cost of such a mobilization would amount to $13.4 billion, with factors like troop rotations and home leave also needing to be taken into account.

Statistics from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry indicate that, in October, there were nearly 800,000 troops present in the country, excluding units such as the National Guard. Overall, approximately 1 million Ukrainians are currently in uniform. In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently ordered the additional deployment of around 170,000 troops, bringing their total force to 1.32 million.

Although the front line between Ukraine and Russia has remained relatively stagnant throughout the year, with a Ukrainian counteroffensive encountering resilient Russian defenses, Zelenskyy asserted that Moscow had failed in its attempts to occupy more Ukrainian territory since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The toll of the conflict on Ukraine's economy was evident through recently released figures. The volume of goods exports through November this year decreased by 19.3% compared to the same period in the previous year. This decline is attributed largely to Russia's blockade of seaports and attacks on export transport logistics. However, there has been a recent increase in sea exports due to the establishment of a temporary grain corridor in the Black Sea, along with the implementation of a ship insurance mechanism. This growth gives hope for the year ahead.

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, over 10,000 civilian deaths have been confirmed since Russia's full-scale invasion began, including the deaths of more than 560 children. Türk further stated that his office is investigating six new cases of alleged civilian killings by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The Russian military has been known to utilize missiles as a means of targeting civilian areas, resulting in devastating consequences.

As the conflict continues in Eastern Europe, Ukraine remains reliant on international support as it faces off against its formidable neighbor, Russia.