Ukraine needs artillery guns and shells, modern tanks, long-range missiles, modern aviation. This was announced on February 9 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , during a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels.
“…I am grateful to all of you who provide such armed assistance! (We) must strengthen the dynamics of our cooperation more powerfully than the aggressor can mobilize its potential,” Zelenskyyy said.
He noted that there are still measures to be taken, for example to apply sanctions against the entire Russian missile and drone industry, as well as against the corresponding part of its IT sector.
“After all, Russian terror by missiles and drones will remain a threat until the source of the threat is destroyed. I believe Europe has such determination,” the Ukrainian leader stressed.
Zelenskyyy reminded that Russia should answer for its aggression – a court is coming and a “compensation mechanism for all damages caused by Russian terror” should be developed.
“Thousands of victims of Russian terror and the memory of thousands of our soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defeat this terror demand justice. When it does, it will be another part of the foundation of the security of a peaceful Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy underlined.
European way of life and Russian aggression
Speaking in the European Parliament, the President of Ukraine stressed that Russia was trying to destroy the European Ukrainian way of life through all-out war.
“But why? Destroy the European way of life as such after the Ukrainian European way of life. For each of the 27 elements of the European way of life. Twenty-seven EU countries. We will not allow this, ”a explained Zelenskyyy.
He also noted that the goal of Russian aggression is not just to seize territory in one or another part of Europe.
“His threat is not just that there is a dictator with insane stockpiles of Soviet weapons and weapons from other dictatorships, especially the Iranian regime. In order to be able to wage this war, the Kremlin has constantly, step by step, year by year, destroyed what we consider the basis of our Europe,” the Ukrainian president said.
Results of the visit: meetings, weapons, planes
On February 8 and 9, President Zelenskyyy visited the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. This is his second foreign visit known to the press since the large-scale Russian aggression.
In London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. During a reception at Buckingham Palace, the Ukrainian head of state congratulated King Charles III on his recent ascent to the throne and wished peace and prosperity to the British people.
Zelenskyyy also visited the Ukrainian army being trained in the UK.
As the press service of the President of Ukraine reported on February 9, at a meeting in Paris with the participation of Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Zelenskyyy, the parties considered the possibility of providing the Ukraine the necessary weapons, as well as issues of maintaining economic and political support and strengthening the policy of sanctions against the aggressor state.
Some leaders of EU member states have indicated they are ready to provide Ukraine with all necessary weapons, including fighter jets, Zelenskyyy said Thursday in a joint press conference with the president. of the European Council and the head of the European Commission in Brussels. will be with us until victory. And today I heard the leaders of some European states say that they are ready to provide us with the necessary weapons, including planes,” he said.
Weapons for the victory of Ukraine
According to political scientist Olesya Yakhno, the visit of the Ukrainian president to London and the capitals of the European Union demonstrated the willingness of the West to provide military assistance to Ukraine at a “significant pace”.
“We are in a phase where winter is ending and spring is beginning, which Western and Ukrainian intelligence have called a phase where Russia can step up its military efforts. What is happening in the east of the country right now , we can say that these efforts are already intensifying, as Russia tries to seize the moment, while Ukraine has not yet received approved tanks, ”Yakhno told the correspondent of the Russian service media.
According to her, during the visit of the leader of Ukraine, the West showed its readiness to discuss questions about the possible supply of weapons to Ukraine for victory.
“The issue of fighter jets has been announced, it is good that there is already the possibility of making decisions on this issue at the next Ramstein, at least in the form of a discussion. But for Ukraine , it is also important to convince the West that there must be enough military assistance to allow not “a little bit” to retake Ukrainian territories, but to achieve a complete and not a partial victory in certain areas”, notes the political scientist. .
She notes that the West has shown an understanding that a protracted war could be good for Russia.
“Russia is a country of 140 million people and is trying to replenish supplies despite sanctions. Consequently, this visit underlined that the rhythm of supply of the weapons should be maximum and not spread out in time”, underlines the analyst.
European integration and military cooperation
The Executive Director of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research, Alexander Leonov, notes that President Zelenskyyy’s rather powerful visit to the UK and EU countries has allowed Ukraine to hinge on two issues: l arms supply and European integration.
“It is clear that the personal presence and personal contacts with the leaders of other states helped to speed up decision-making on the issue of transferring long-range munitions and combat aircraft to Ukraine. So far, these questions are at the statement level, but the most important thing is that they have been raised. But along with these statements, some tasks were also sounded. For example, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked to analyze which combat aircraft London could transfer to Ukraine, ”Alexander Leonov told the correspondent of the Russian service media.
The political scientist believes that the question of the possibility of obtaining F-16 fighter jets by Kiev has moved from the political to the technical level.
The second part of Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘s trip, according to him, clearly confirmed the position that Ukraine is indeed perceived as part of the EU and NATO. It is important. Now, Kiev must make efforts to take advantage of the “window of opportunity” for rapid integration into the EU and NATO, when these sentiments are at their peak. To do this, the country must carry out the necessary reforms, because NATO and the EU are above all about reforms, the rule of law, freedom of expression, and Ukraine must show that it is doing everything to integrate into the European Union. space as quickly as possible,” emphasizes Alexander Leonov.
