Optimistic that the European allies will respond to his calls for the delivery of advanced fighter aircraft, the president of Ukrainian, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I heard messages of strong support from many countries,” Zelensky said at the second summit of the European Political Community (EPC), attended by nearly 50 European leaders. Among them the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulouwith which he had a hearty greeting.
He said he was informed of “significant number” of fighter jetswhich he emphasized is necessary primarily to protect the Ukrainian population from Russian air attacks, rather than to counterattack against the invaders.
Kiev has already received air defense systems and some Soviet-made fighter jets, but the training of Ukrainian pilots in F-16s is underway.
Until the Ukrainian air force is reinforced with advanced fighter jets, Kiev needs more Patriot arrays, Zelensky said to leaders attending the PKK summit hosted in the Moldavian village of Bulboatsa, about 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
“Patriots will put an end to Russian blackmail”
“The build-up of Patriot (missiles) will put an end to Russian blackmail with ballistic missiles, while the build-up of modern fighter jets will prove that terrorism against our citizens will stand absolutely no chance.”he said characteristically and he repeated the same in his nightly sermon to the Ukrainian people.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz underlined the importance of the air defense systems Berlin has already delivered, particularly as Russian forces step up their airstrikes in Ukraine.
For his part, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country has sent Patriots to Kiev and agreed to train Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighters, urged other governments to heed Zelensky’s call. “I don’t need to tell you how much is at stake,” he added.
Volodymyr Zelensky also underlined Ukraine’s will to join the European Union and NATO. “Every European country that borders Russia and doesn’t want Russia to break it up should be a full member of the EU and NATO”, said the Ukrainian president. He even claimed that Russia is afraid of NATO and is trying to “swallow” the states that are not under its protection.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, emphasized that he believes that the EPK summit sends a clear message to Moscow that Europe is united in defending the international order.
Disturbed by the summit in Moldova, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) appeared. “The West is pushing Moldova to get involved in the Ukrainian conflict,” argued Alexander Bortnikov.
Source: News Beast
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