LONDON (AP) – Volodymyr Zelensky left for Europe with a long shopping list. The Ukrainian president will be coming home with much of what he hoped for, though not the Western fighters he wants to protect from Russian airstrikes.
During a tumultuous three-day visit to Italy, the Vatican, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, European leaders will deploy missiles, He promised President Zelensky a stockpile of tanks and drones. To replenish the tide of war.
The visit was also aimed at strengthening Europe’s long-term political and military support so that Ukraine could hold fast to all its conquered lands and promote a favorable peace.
“They are in this conflict for the long term and need to show they are capable of continuing this effort,” said Justin Crump, a former British tank commander and head of security consultancy Sibulin. Stated. “It’s not going to be one shot and done.”
Zelenskyy’s energetic international diplomacy over 15 months of war has persuaded Ukraine’s Western allies to send ever more powerful weapons, from German Leopard tanks to U.S. Patriot missile systems and Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the U.K.
Pressing his case to European leaders in person shows Zelenskyy’s growing confidence about traveling abroad. It’s also an attempt to get his “ducks in a row” as Ukraine prepares a push to reclaim territory seized by Russia, said Patrick Bury, senior lecturer in security at the University of Bath.
Bury said that if Ukraine launches an offensive “and it doesn’t go well, there might be a drop off in support and more pressure to negotiate. I think he’s just trying to bind in for as long as he possibly can as much support as he can from the West.”
On Monday, the U.K. pledged hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).
France, where Ukraine’s leader met President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, said it would supply Ukraine with dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles, along with unspecified air defense systems. President Zelensky also traveled to Germany to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose initial reluctance to supply Ukraine with vicious weapons sparked discontent in Kiev. Germany is now one of Ukraine’s largest arms suppliers, including main battle tanks and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system.
During President Zelensky’s visit, Germany unveiled additional equipment worth €2.7 billion, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.
But President Zelensky’s goal of forming an international “fighter coalition” to provide aircraft to Ukraine faces NATO concerns about the alliance’s expanding role in the war. Ukraine wants U.S.-made F-16s to complement its Soviet-era fighter jets, but the U.S. has resisted requests for the F-16s. Mr Sunak said the UK wanted to help Ukraine buy fighter jets, but “it’s not going to be easy”.
The UK does not have an F-16, but has announced that starting this summer, Ukrainian pilots will be allowed basic training in Western standard jets.
When asked about the aircraft, Scholz reacted evasively, referring instead to the air defense systems he provided to Ukraine.
“That’s what we are focused on now as Germany,” he said.
Massive announcements from European capitals are partly diplomatic theatre. Ukraine has seen a steady influx of equipment from the West, and some of the weapons unveiled this week may have already arrived. In addition to future attacks, President Zelensky’s visit was aimed at securing long-term supplies.
