BRUSSELS (AFP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “a Ukraine that is winning” its war with Russia should be a member of the European Union, arguing the bloc wouldn’t be complete without it.
On his second trip abroad since the invasion, Zelensky enjoyed a day of ceremonies in London, where he greeted King Charles III. He met and spoke before parliament.
During a visit to France that, by contrast, appeared to be a last-minute deadlock, he threw a late dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
But despite the different formats, Zelensky’s demands were the same. More weapons, especially fighters and long-range missiles, and faster delivery.
“The sooner Ukraine gets its long-range heavy weapons, the sooner its pilots get their planes, the sooner this Russian aggression will end and peace will be restored in Europe. ” he said in Paris.
“We have very little time,” he warned. Macron pledged that France would help Ukraine win the war against Russian aggression and would continue efforts to supply arms.
France is “determined to help Ukraine win and restore its legitimate rights,” he said.
he added:
“Ukraine can count on France, its European partners and her allies to win the war. Russia cannot and should not assert itself.”
Scholz said Germany and its partners have supported Ukraine “financially, with humanitarian aid and arms”, adding:
“We will do this as long as it is necessary.”
As the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches and Ukraine prepares for a renewed Russian offensive in the east, Zelensky is increasingly pressing allies to send tanks, jets and missiles.
Britain said it would consider the fighter proposal “in the long term,” but the United States and other NATO allies are wary of further involvement in the conflict for fear of provoking Russia. Britain has offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots on top of an existing program that has already prepared 10,000 soldiers for combat.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office has ordered the Defense Minister to “investigate possible jets that we could offer, but to be clear, this is more of a long-term solution than a short-term capability.” is,” he said.
With Zelensky in front of British tanks, Sunak said he had “nothing in mind” for Ukraine, including fighter jets.
There was talk of jet fighters, Zelensky said, reiterating calls for long-range missiles.
Russia later said there would be a “reaction” from Moscow if Britain handed over the plane to Ukraine.
Zelensky is scheduled to meet with EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, after a hasty meeting in Paris that the Ukrainian boss himself said was spontaneous. Zelensky was at times impatient with President Macron, who continued to call Vladimir Putin frequently after the invasion, expressing concern that Russia should not be humiliated by the final settlement.
But President Macron has now hinted that France wants to help Ukraine win the conflict, announcing it will send light tanks and urging Germany to follow suit with main battle tanks.
Moscow announced on Tuesday that Russian forces were advancing towards Bakhmut and Vgledal, two key combat centres in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands on Tuesday pledged that Ukraine would receive at least 100 of her tanks in the coming months during a visit to Kyiv by the German Defense Minister.
Germany recently gave the go-ahead to send Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine after a vigorous campaign by Zelensky and his allies. Germany’s defence minister said Berlin hopes to hand over its first tank battalion to Ukraine by April.
But Putin remains defiant.
