Zelensky asks European leaders within the Council for extra weapons for Ukraine, together with fighter jets

The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, has met with the European leaders in Brussels a number of days after one 12 months has elapsed because the begin of the struggle launched by Moscow. “You can’t have a free Europe and not using a free Ukraine,” he mentioned, including that extra measures have to be taken, along with sanctions, towards sectors linked to Russian drones or missiles.

Zelensky has thanked European leaders for his or her assist however is asking them to produce kyiv with extra weapons, together with fighter jets. “I’m grateful to everybody who helps, grateful to everybody who understands how a lot Ukraine wants proper now. We want artillery weapons, shells for them, trendy tanks, long-range missiles, trendy plane…” he mentioned. And he added: “We must strengthen the dynamics of our cooperation extra powerfully than the aggressor can mobilize his potential.”

In his message to the 27 on the European Council summit this Thursday, Zelenski has emphasised the candidate standing granted to Ukraine final June and that places kyiv on the group path. “The EU has given constant assist and for the primary time we really feel that this has set a precedent for any aggressor that an assault towards a European nation can’t happen,” he mentioned.

Zelensky has linked the unity of Europeans in backing Ukraine to Ukraine’s potential to recapture territory occupied by Russian troops and to have “a stronger peace” after the struggle.

“Thank you for supporting us and understanding how a lot assist we’d like: artillery, ammunition, trendy tanks, long-range missiles, trendy fighters… Thank you for giving us the army assist you supply us,” Zelenski mentioned to the 27, sure He has properly underlined that the EU should velocity up the supply of arms to a Russia that’s “shifting quick”.

On the facet of sanctions, he has confused the significance of accelerating strain on Russia with new rounds that additionally goal the Russian nuclear sector.

Lastly, the Ukrainian president has requested for European assist for the kyiv peace formulation, an initiative that “has nice potential” and that, in his opinion, will serve to keep up a free Europe, at which era he talked about safety not not solely from Ukraine, however from Moldova, Georgia, Poland and the Baltics. “We have to ensure peace for all of the European nations”, he has settled it.

As an instance as an instance vulnerability to the Russian menace, Zelensky has identified that his intelligence providers not too long ago intercepted a Kremlin plan to “destroy” Moldova’s democracy, one thing he reported to Moldovan President Maria Sandu.

Earlier, Zelensky spoke within the European Parliament, the place he acknowledged that his nation sees Europe as “the way in which residence” and that with the “whole struggle” launched by Russia, the Kremlin is attempting to “annihilate the European lifestyle in Ukraine “. “For Ukraine, Europe is the way in which residence. I’m right here to defend the way in which residence for all Ukrainians, of all ages, social standing and spiritual convictions,” Zelensky mentioned.

The Ukrainian president made these statements earlier than a rare plenary session of the European Parliament that interrupted and dismissed him with cheers and applause within the first of his commitments in Brussels, earlier than going to the summit of heads of state and authorities.