16 March, 2025
The number of foreign volunteers joining the Ukrainian Defense Forces has surged following statements from the Trump administration, according to the Kyiv Independent.
A massive flow of foreign volunteers eager to help Ukraine and sign contracts has been recorded following a series of high-profile statements by Trump and the scandal involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a recruiter from one of the most elite units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces that accepts foreign volunteers, the number of applications has increased by several thousand following the dispute in the Oval Office.
British volunteers in Ukraine. Photo credits: Lucas Tomlinson / Twitter
Meanwhile, most volunteers made their decision not only out of outrage over American policies but also from a deep understanding that Ukraine urgently needs both people and weapons to halt the Russian army.
Some former U.S. military personnel have expressed a desire to join the International Legion of Ukraine after completing their contracts with the U.S. Army.
The Kyiv Independent spoke with a 25-year-old artilleryman and U.S. Army veteran who arrived in Ukraine after finishing his service.
“It’s frustrating to sit around and do nothing when you know you can do something right,” William shared.
Belarusian volunteers of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment of Ukraine. 2022, Ukraine. Photo credits: Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment
He mentioned that his turning point was the meeting between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28.
Another U.S. Army veteran, Ron from Colorado, who served in Afghanistan, also expressed his intention to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces. He explained that he was disillusioned with U.S. policy towards Ukraine, prompting him to take matters into his own hands and contribute in any way he could.
“It’s an absolute shame to me. I just can’t sit by and watch it happen anymore, especially when the people of Ukraine are so freaking brave, and they’re doing such great work with the limited equipment we have given them,” Ron told the Kyiv Independent.
Another volunteer is a 40-year-old man who introduced himself as Esquire. He has never served in the military, is married, and has two children. When asked what motivated him to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces, he replied, “I feel betrayed, sickened, and like my country is no longer what I thought it was.”
Militarnyi previously reported that the 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine started recruiting foreigners.
In many ways, Trump and Vance’s contemptible and disgraceful behavior in front of the president of a beleaguered country has had many negative repercussions. One is that the United States was deeply humiliated in front of the entire planet. The other is a strengthening of the willing, including these foreign volunteers who, other than our POTUS and vice POTUS, have morals and dignity and courage.
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
“I feel betrayed, sickened, and like my country is no longer what I thought it was.”
He’s a man of honour.
JD VanZkov represents the worst and him the best.
Now Nate Vance on the other hand, is the correct Vance for VP.
“Nate Vance spent three years on the front lines fighting for Ukraine against the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.
In an interview with The Independent, Nate Vance accused his cousin and Trump of pressuring Zelensky because they know they can’t bully Putin.
“There was a campaign promise made to end the war quickly and when those two [Trump and Vance] are looking at ‘who can we bully into stopping’ they see that Ukraine is in a position of weakness. It was a simple calculation on their part that ‘we can’t really push Putin around necessarily so we’ll push Zelensky around,’” he said.”
The vice president has long been critical of U.S. aid to Ukraine, even during his short stint as an Ohio senator.
“When he criticized aid to Ukraine, I told myself that it was because he had to please a certain electorate, that it was the game of politics,” Nate Vance told Le Figaro. “But what they did to Zelensky was an ambush of absolute bad faith.”
“Donald Trump and my cousin clearly believe they can placate Vladimir Putin,” he added. “They are wrong. The Russians are not about to forget our support for Ukraine. We are Vladimir Putin’s useful idiots.”
He added that he was “disappointed” by the Oval Office showdown.”
“Nate Vance accused his cousin and Trump of pressuring Zelensky because they know they can’t bully Putin.”
I would say that the orange administration would rather NOT bully the war criminal. Trump loves him too much … and Vance is more than willing to take sloppy seconds after Trump is finished.