Volodymyr Zelensky
NATO must decide whether it is Kyiv’s ally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Friday, urging defence ministers from the bloc’s member countries to increase military delivery to his embattled soldiers.
Zelensky request to Western allies to deliver at least seven more air defence systems came hours after Russia launched a series of deadly drone and missile attacks across the country.
At least eight persons were killed by a barrage in Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, including two children. However, Ukraine claimed it had shot down one of the long-range Russian bombers that launched the missiles for the first time.
“Our sky must become safe again”, Zelensky told a meeting of NATO defence ministers via video.
“It depends fully on your choice”, Zelensky continued, telling the gathering in Brussels that their alliance faced a decision about whether we indeed are allies.
Zelensky compared Western attempts to defend Israel from Iran’s recent aerial attacks to Ukraine’s situation, arguing that more should be done to assist Kyiv in fending off Russian bombardments.
Zelensky went on to say, “Ukraine could not defend itself without Western support”.
“It is obvious that now, while Russia has air advantage and can rely on its drone and rocket terror, our capabilities on the ground, unfortunately, are limited”, Zelensky added.
“I expect new announcements on air defence capabilities for Ukraine soon”, Zelensky noted.
Ukraine has experienced a spike in Russian attacks on its cities. Earlier this week, a strike in Chernigiv killed 18 people.
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