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.

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.

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.