We caught up with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal  on Wednesday as Kyiv fights to maintain Western support in its war with Russia. A snapshot of what he said 👇

Ukraine’s fears: It’s not just flagging U.S. support that’s keeping the country awake at night. It’s also concerned with maintaining European backing. A €50 billion EU package for Ukraine has stalled since last year, after Hungary blocked it, with EU leaders meeting in Brussels next week in a last-ditch effort to get it over the line. 

Ukraine’s needs: “This money is crucially important for us,” said Shmyhal. “It will let us finance our budget [and] allow us to implement a process of rapid recovery.” (About €38 billion is earmarked for budgetary support, another €8 billion for investment projects.)

On Donald Trump: “We’ll see how conditions develop in 2025,” said Shmyhal when asked if he feared a second Trump presidency. “I believe that any president of the United States will support our fight for civilized values, our mutual values,” arguing that most American people back Ukraine.