Moves forward with a historic vote on military aid to ukraine, despite threats to oust him. He is serving ukraine first and america last. I have done what i believe to be the right thing. Will weapons make it to the front lines in time . For months and months we have been diddling around where people are dying. Is it enough for ukraine to win the war . I will speak exclusively with ukrainian president zelenskyy. On the defensive. As Donald Trumps fir Approval Rating rises in our latest nbc news poll. Under my predecessor, who is busy right now [ laughter ] but enthusiasm for the 2024 election is still the lowest in decades. Steve kornacki will break down i the latest numbers. And history lessons. President ial historian Doris Concerns Goodwin joins me for a Meet The Press moment. Meet the press moment. Ch us. We have lived through hard tim i feel so positive about what history can teach us. We have lived through hard times before. Joining me for insight and correspondent andrea mitchell, democratic pollster Cornell Belcher and republican strategist matt gorman. Welcome to sunday, its Meet The Press. Good sunday morning. We begin with our new nbc news poll and the headline, President Biden is closing the gap with former president trump. Trump leads biden by two points in a headtohead matchup, 46 to 44 . Biden has narrowed that deficit by five points in january. When thirdparty candidates are included, biden leads by two points, 39 to 37 . The president s job approval has ticked up to 42 , up five points from january. The last time we have seen a fivepoint increase for an incumbent president in their reelection year was bill clinton in 1996. There are still troubling numbers in the poll for biden. He trails trump by 22 points on dealing with inflation and the cost of living. All of it comes amid a major Foreign Policy development. Six months after the president delivered an Oval Office Speech pledging aid for ukraine, 61 billion in new funding finally passed on saturday, 311112. The bill is passed. A moment of bipartisanship. In a congress primarily defined by its dysfunction. 101 republicans and 210 democrats voted in favor. Congress passed aid for israel and taiwan, along with a measure to force tiktoks Parent Company bytedance to sell the app. New aid came after mike johnson, who once opposed it, did an aboutface and put his job on the line to get it through amid threats from three far right republicans to oust him. If we turn our backs right now, the consequences could be devastating. You are being asked to resign. Do you plan to . No. As i said many times, i dont walk around this building being worried about a motion to vacate. I have to do my job. We did. Ive done what i believe to be the right thing, allow the house to work its will. As i said, you do the right thing and you let the chips fall where they may. The pentagon has said it has a massive infusion of military aid for ukraine ready to go. It comes as ukrainian president zelenskyy said that without this support we will have no chance of winning. Ukraines top Military Commander issued a bleak assessment of the armys positions on the eastern front, saying they have worsened significantly in recent days, and the top American Military commander in europe told members of congress, russia will soon be able to fire ten shells for every ukrainian shell. If one side can shoot and the other side cant shoot back, the side that cant shoot back loses. Joining me now is the president of ukraine, president volodymyr zelenskyy. President zelenskyy, welcome back to Meet The Press. Translator good morning and greetings to you. President zelenskyy, its an historic morning. I want to get your reaction to this major news. The house approving 61 billion in aid to ukraine. Its expected to pass through the senate. You have been asking for this aid for six months. In that time, you have run out of ammunition. You have suffered setbacks on the battlefield. Will you get this aid in time to make a difference . Translator its been so important. First of all, i would like to say thanks to the congress for the bipartisan support, and id like to say thanks to Speaker Johnson and President Biden. Indeed, it is so important, the support from the United States of america. Of course, the support of the American People because, of course, the political decisions depend on the public opinion. This aid will strengthen ukraine and send the kremlin a powerful signal that it will not be the second afghanistan. The United States will stay with ukraine, will protect the ukrainians, and they will protect the democracy in the world. This is the show of leadership and strength of the United States. And i think, indeed, now weve reached this important moment. For half a year, we have been waiting, and i would like to say thanks to all the team on my side and on the u. S. Side, the team who did everything so that we would get this positive vote. Today, we definitely need this aid. And, kristen, you know, we really need to get this to the final point. We need to get it approved by the senate. And then we want to, well, get things as fast as possible so that we get some tangible assistance for the soldiers on the frontline as soon as possible, not in another six months. So that they would be able to move ahead. You know, you said this week, president zelenskyy, that ukraine would have no chance of winning without more u. S. Support. And i guess the question is, can ukraine now win this war, or is the United States merely giving you enough aid to prolong this war . Translator thank you. I think this support will really strengthen the armed forces of ukraine, and we will have a chance for victory if ukraine really gets the weapon systems, which we need so much. Thousands of soldiers need so much. And this aid should not be just spread in thin layer all over, but it has to end up in tangible weapon systems. Some really crucial weapon systems, which are hard to get. The longrange artillery. I really appreciate that it mentions longrange weapons. And its important because we need longrange weapons to not lease people on the frontline. We have casualties because we cannot reach that far. Our weapons are not that longrange. We need it. And air defense. This is crucial. These are the priorities now. President zelenskyy, as you know, this aid was held up for half a year because there is fierce opposition to sending more aid to ukraine, particularly amongst some republicans. How long should americans be expected to fund the war in ukraine . Translator the americans are not funding the war in ukraine. They first and foremost, protect freedom and democracy all over europe. And ukraine is fighting, and ukraine is sending its best Sons And Daughters to the frontline, and this is the price for all europe, for all nato. This is the price for everyone, including the u. S. As the leader in the nato. U. S. Army does not have to fight protecting nato countries. Ukrainians are doing that. Its only the ammo that the civilized world is providing. I think its a good decision. That is why we do need to keep supporting while ukraine stands. Theres no direct war between u. S. Or nato and russian aggression. So ukraine is still fighting, and ukraine is protecting all the others. But president zelenskyy, can you give americans a sense of the timeline . Will you still need as much aid this time next year, or do you think you can turn the corner on russia . Whats the timeline . Translator well, it depends on when we actually get weapons on the ground. As you said, kristen, if we get them in half a year well, weve had the process stalled for half a year, and we have losses in several directions. The losses in men, in equipment. In the east it was very difficult. We did lose the initiative there. Now we have all the chance to stabilize the situation and to overtake the initiative. And thats why we need to actually have the weapon systems. When we get it, when we have it in our arms, then we do have the chance to take this initiative and to move ahead and to protect ukraine. But giving the u. S. A specific timeline of the war, well, it depends on how soon we get this aid. There are so many variables, so many factors. Sometimes when we protect the important line, you retreat because you dont have enough forces and equipment. And then retaking that line would take two or three times more. Im not saying that this is how its going to end up, but things are possible. I can give you an example with f16. Its a great example. The decision to supply f16 fighter jets to ukraine was headed a year ago. One year ago we got the positive response. Ukraine should receive these fighter jets so that not only air defense protect the sky, but we also have modern jets. A year has passed. We still dont have the jets in ukraine. Its very difficult to do any forecast. I would like us to be open and very, very specific. From the moment we get our hands on these weapon systems, from that moment, we can talk about timeline. President zelenskyy, ukrainian intelligence suggests that the kremlin is preparing for a major offensive in the coming months. You have said by your own account that they are prepared to outgun you ten to one in firepower by some estimations. Will you be ready for that offensive . Translator we are preparing the personnel. The soldiers are engaged in training. I dont want to repeat myself, but we are waiting for the weapon systems, because we want to have the brigades fully equipped. Some of them are exhausted. We need to replace them. But these new brigades, they have to have the equipment. Russia wants to mobilize 300,000 people by june 1st. We are getting ready for this. By may 9th, russia expects that in the east of ukraine, they will take a city. I visited the region recently. I talked to the soldiers. The soldiers say that they lack equipment. They need to fight russian reconnaissance drones, which essentially guide artillery. We need artillery shells. I hope we will be able to stay and the weapons will come on time and we will repel the enemy, and then we will break the plans of the Russian Federation with regard to this fullscale offensive. I want to ask you, president zelenskyy, about reports of a lack of morale. Some 650,000 men who are eligible to fight, we are told, have fled ukraine. You have lowered the drafteligible age, but you have resisted a full callup of all young ukrainian men. What do you say to young men who dont want to fight, who dont want to risk their lives in this war for their country . Translator this war is the war for the sake of all of us. This is our land. We dont have another place to go. The citizens of ukraine understand that. Of course, there are people who dont want, who are not ready, but we do have this mobilization campaign, we do have a draft, we do have a strong army, and we can be frank in russia, of course, they have more people, and people are forced there. So, for example, if someone in russia is deserting the battlefield, they shoot them on sight. We cannot do that because we have democratic values, believe in the democratic country. To be frank, in ukraine, we have a lot of people who are ready to protect the motherland. But, of course, the motivation, the morale can go down, especially when they go to the frontline and they see that, well, there are no shells, there is no equipment. Thats why the aid from the states is so important. People who were trained they need to be trained by professional people, and they need to have the equipment to be used so that they have this equipment not only on the Training Field but also on the actual battlefield. And then, indeed, they can show the performance on the frontline. This is very important. President zelenskyy translator the morale will still be high, and then they will, indeed, defend the motherland. The Washington Post is reporting that donald trump has privately said he could end russias war in ukraine by pressuring ukraine to give up some territory like crimea, like the donbas region. What is your reaction . Realistically speaking, do you see this war ending in a negotiation with russia . Translator i would like to say that im a president of the country at war. Rumors and different hearsay, i dont believe that. When trump comes here and would tell me their formula, then i would be able to provide the response. At the moment, i know that well, things im sure people who know him well, they know that you can never trust putin. Its impossible. So the strategy of ending the war should be based not on the words which putin says or some other people from his Group Entourage says, but something very specific, something very tangible with ukraine that is dependent and democratic, and Im Department that everyone is interested in that. The political leaders are interested in having ukraine independent and sovereign and democratic. Its of interest for both the republicans and democrats. President zelenskyy, back in february, donald trump encouraged putin to invade nato countries that he doesnt believe are contributing enough to defense spending. What kind of a message do you think that sends to the world . Translator well, i dont know the details of that speech. I know for sure if ukraine fails, then putin definitely will invade the baltic countries. Why . Not because theres some interesting idea, strategy, but because putin wants to return the influence of the soviet union. And he really wants to retake with force, through war he wants to retake all former soviet republics and now independent states. Whether they are in nato or not, he doesnt care. That is why this is his strategy. Of course, after the baltic states, also poland and parts of germany would president zelenskyy, big picture, germanys top military official warned putin could be ready to attack nato countries in as soon as five years, following up on what you are saying. How big of a threat do you see putin to the west . Translator i think he does want to go further. As i said, he wants to reinstate soviet union and the soviet bloc, and they do that in terms of information misinformation. They just bribe different political groups and dmoms, not only europe and latin america, africa. They have the influence wherever, and they do this to split the world. So the risk is high. I think this german diplomat said its nothing about the wish of putin, but if putin is not stopped, then putin is ready to attack nato, even the sheer size of the weapons that they have. We have to be ready to stop him now. Because we have seen that in georgia. We have seen that in other countries. If we give a big pause to putin, if we freeze the war right where we are, this will enable him because all of his industry will start working not for the war in ukraine, but will start working for the war against nato. President zelenskyy, you are not just a president , you are also a father. You have survived multiple assassination attempts. Tens of thousands of your fellow citizens have been killed and injured. Millions have left their homes. Have you ever lost hope . Translator you can never lose hope. You can never lose hope, you can never lose freedom, you can never lose independence, otherwise, you lose everything. You lose your faith, you lose your security for your children. Like all the children of ukraine are my children. I will lose everything. I have to show example. If i lose hope, well, my children would lose their future in independent country. Then we would lose ukraine as a nation. Its not only about the territory. Its about ourselves, our identities. So we cannot lose hope. We have had different moments. Some were very cruel. There were moments of challenge. Im sure in the history of the United States, they also have many moments when the people had to fight for their independence. We remember the period of struggling when many people lost hope, or some people emigrated france. But some people raised the banner, the banner of independence. Some people were skeptical on both sides of the ocean, in europe too. But people didnt give up. I think well, youve got the independent country, and the worlds got this great democracy. So we cannot lose hope either. President zelenskyy, thank you for being here on this monumental morning. We really appreciate your perspective and having a chance to talk to you. When we come back, Steve Kornacki is here with the results of our latest nbc news poll. I paid 60 less than this guy. What . and its not just sports tickets. Its also concerts. Performances too oh, come on download gametime. Last minute tickets, lowest price. Guaranteed. [coughing] copd isnt pretty. Im out of breath, and often out of the picture. But this is my story. and with oncedaily trelegy, it can still be beautiful. Because with 3 medicines in 1 inhaler, trelegy keeps my airways open for a full 24 hours and prevents future flareups. Trelegy also improves lung function, so i can breathe more freely all day and night. Trelegy wont replace a Rescue Inhaler for sudden breathing problems. Tell your doctor if you have a Heart Condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. Do not take trelegy more than prescribed. Trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. What a Wonderful World [laughing] ask your doctor about oncedaily trelegy for copd because breathing should be beautiful, all day and night. Welcome back. Welcome back. For more on the nbc news poll, im joined by Steve Kornacki to break down the numbers. A lot of headlines here, steve. Absolutely. I think the biggest headline, this. Donald trump does lead joe biden 48 to 44 in our poll. But this is a tightening from our last poll. You can see three months ago, donald trump had a fivepoint lead against the current president. That fivepoint lead now down to two points. Theres progress here for biden in the last three months. Coming after the state of the union. And