Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Friday for Western countries to accelerate deliveries of promised air defense systems and fighter jets, on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion.
He spoke as vital US aid to Ukraine has been blocked by the US Congress and as Russia has been emboldened by fresh gains in recent weeks.
“The most important thing is to unblock the sky. Air defense and future jets will help it,” Zelensky told reporters at a press conference in the western city of Lviv.
“What's important is that all our decisions have to come in time. I think that is the priority,” he said, adding that Ukraine had seen delays to promised shipments during last year's failed counter-offensive.
He said air defense was critical to saving civilian lives and “strengthening of our army on the front line.”
Zelensky was speaking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as Western leaders descend on the country in a show of support for Kyiv as the war enters its third year.
NATO member Denmark has promised to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine later this year, and Several NATO countries have been training Ukrainian pilots on the advanced planes for months.
Ukraine relies on Western military backing to help it defend against Russian attacks, which have accelerated as Moscow seeks to take advantage of Kyiv's stretched resources on the battlefield.
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A vital $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine from Washington is currently held up in the US Congress amid domestic political wrangling.
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Comments ( 1)
At the same meeting President Zalensky said Ukraine goverment would go on Polish-Ukraine border and he doesn't care if Polish gov will come. It happend 2 hours after in Warsaw Donald Tusk and Ursula v d Layen declared solution in order to calm down situation and solve the issue. Not only in Poland but also in whole EU where farmers right now are protesting (today in Paris).
I must say that Mr Zelensky (Ukraine) is really great at deescalating problems and probably we will see WTO lawsuit 2.0 scenario soon.
@oma, So what....one meeting ?
This generation has probably never seen the work ethic and tenancy which the Zelensky team illustrates in working to save Ukraine. They are on call in a war zone 24/7 risking their lives for nation.
Some elected officials do next to diddly squat. Say for example, putinrumps' entire MRGA entourage in Congress. Due entirely to MRGA stalling, this is the least productive congress in the history of the USA.....only 20 bills passed. Due to coordinated putin and MRGA efforts Ukrainians are dying.
Then there's MRGA's leader 'putinrump' who is generally in court most days for his >4091 legal case appearances (4000 before becoming president +91 felony charges since....I probably missed some) . If he gets a break, he's playing golf, fomenting insurrections, or perhaps off on another booty call thats going to cost him big PAC money.
Or how about Putin? What's he do with his days? Arranging to murder his opponents? Hides out in his bunkers, bugs out whenever danger approaches (Prigozhin mad), or maybe sends a body double 100's of kms away from the war front. When he is working, its at the far end of a 40' table from other participants who spend most their time saying "What?".
Maybe President Zelensky occasionally ruffles a feather? Maybe he makes the occasional bad call? In action he is most courageous, intelligent, hardworking, unifying and loyal to his nation.