hold out against

Many Palestinians we spoke to called on Jordan and Egypt - which Trump is pressing to take displaced Gazans - and for Saudi Arabia - which he wants to normalise relations with Israel - to hold out against US pressure.

Ukraine’s problems have been mounting in recent months as it tries to hold out against its much bigger foe, and the war appears to be at a critical juncture.

By and large, Ukrainians still believe they can hold out against a resurgent and powerful foe — if for no other reason, as nearly everyone here points out, than that they are in a fight for their lives.

“It was a kind of new Armenian state, new Armenian land being born, which they projected lots of hopes on. Very unrealistic hopes, I would say,” he said, adding that it encouraged Karabakh Armenians to hold out against Azerbaijan despite the lack of international recognition for their separatist government.

It was hard to imagine how Ukraine could hold out against Russia, with its larger army and more powerful weapons.