Zelenskyy confirmed his most famous quote. I got pushback for reporting it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his famous quote, 'I need ammunition, not a ride,' during a speech marking four years since the Russian invasion. This statement was made in response to an evacuation offer from the U.S. as Russian forces advanced on Kyiv. The quote has since become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and defiance against the invasion.
- ▪Zelenskyy confirmed he said, 'I need ammunition, not a ride,' during the early days of the Russian invasion.
- ▪The quote became widely recognized and was used to symbolize Ukrainian resolve against Russian aggression.
- ▪The Biden administration initially denied that Zelenskyy had made the statement, leading to controversy over its reporting.
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Politics Zelenskyy confirmed asking for "ammunition, not a ride." Four years ago, I got pushback for reporting that. By James LaPorta James LaPorta National security coordinating producer James LaPorta is the national security coordinating producer for the CBS News' Washington bureau. He is a former U.S. Marine veteran infantryman and veteran of the Afghanistan war. Read Full Bio James LaPorta Updated on: May 21, 2026 / 4:54 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Washington — Back in February, just after American forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and days before the United States would kick off its war with Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time that he had uttered perhaps the best-known line attributed to him about the war…
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