Zelenskyy did say, "The U.S. will have to send their sons and daughters exactly the same way as we are sending [our] sons and daughters to war." However, he was talking about a hypothetical situation in which Ukraine losing the war against Russia would lead to a broader conflict resulting in Americans being pulled into fighting.

US President Donald Trump has long said he would negotiate a quick end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In pursuit of a deal, the US has engaged with the Kremlin while pressuring Kyiv to support the peace initiative.