In closed-door meeting, Zelensky calls for more support from Western leaders

Leaders who attended a closed-door North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit heard an effusive plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for new Western security assistance, according to a senior US government official. who heard the comments.

The Ukrainian leader failed to issue his usual calls for a no-fly zone or NATO membership.

But Zelensky, in the speech delivered virtually, spoke “very eloquently” to describe his military’s efforts to defend Ukrainian citizens and democratic values, the official said.

Zelensky’s virtual speech kicked off the summit, which is taking place in private. US President Joe Biden then spoke, presenting the West’s coordinated approach to sanctions, reiterating strong support for Ukraine and reinforcing the US commitment to NATO.

Biden “exposed a number of issues that the alliance will have to deal with” in the coming months before the NATO alliance meets again in late June in Spain, the official said.

This includes finalizing force posture changes on NATO’s eastern flank.

The mood inside the NATO summit was “sober, resolute and incredibly united,” the official said.

“There was a very strong sense that we are facing a significant historic moment and very strong support from all the leaders who spoke out about the need to defend our democracy,” the official said.

Other topics that emerged included China and a collective desire to prevent Beijing from supporting Russia in its invasion.

And the leaders discussed contingencies if Russia uses a chemical or nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine.

“I think there’s a recognition that NATO needs to continue a lot of the good work in progress to be prepared to respond to various contingencies,” the official said.