War against Ukraine: Zelenskyy asks in London and Paris for more weapons

war against Ukraine
Selenskyj asked in London and Paris for more weapons

President Emmanuel Macron (M) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyj (l) in Paris. photo

© Thibault Camus/AP/dpa

“Freedom will triumph!” shouted the Ukrainian President in London. What he needs against Russia, he says clearly: not only battle tanks, but also jets. Then it’s on to Paris and Brussels.

During surprise visits to London and Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the West for more weapons. His country’s army needs fighter jets in particular to win the defensive battle against Russia, said Selenskyj in London on his second trip abroad since the war began almost a year ago. There he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III.

In the evening, Zelenskyj met French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris. The dinner in the Élysée Palace should also be about further support for Ukraine, it was said in advance in Paris.

The Ukrainian President is expected to continue to Brussels after meeting Scholz and Macron. An EU summit begins there on Thursday. Ukraine hopes to join the European Union soon. But the negotiations haven’t even started yet. Macron and Scholz had already promised Selenskyj support during a joint visit to Kyiv in June

Fighter jets from Great Britain? – “Long term” solution

Great Britain is one of Kiev’s closest supporters in the defensive fight against Russia – but the guest from Kyiv did not receive a firm commitment to deliver fighter jets there either. Sunak later only said that he had asked the Ministry of Defense to check the availability of jets. But it is a “long-term” solution, it said from Downing Street. Zelenskyj, on the other hand, made it clear that he wanted London to play a leading role when it came to combat aircraft. He thanked in advance for “capable English aircraft”.

At a press conference in the evening, Sunak announced that the British Challenger 2 main battle tanks, which had already been confirmed, are to be deployed in Ukraine as early as March. Longer-range missiles are also being discussed to help Kyiv protect civilians. Selenskyj emphasized the importance of missiles, for example to ward off drones. Ukraine is to receive 14 modern Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany.

Initially only training for Ukrainian soldiers

London also announced that it would expand the training program for Ukrainian soldiers. According to Sunak, fighter pilots and marines will also be trained in the future. This should also enable Ukrainian pilots to fly NATO fighter jets – which should fuel the debate about possible deliveries of such machines from Western countries.

Hundreds of people gathered in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Parliament in London, for a speech by Selensky in front of Parliament. The President thanked him emphatically for the British arms deliveries and was confident about the outcome of the war: “We know: Freedom will win! And we know that this victory will change the world. It will be a victory that it took the world a long time.”

In a government statement in the Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz called on the allies to unite when it comes to arms deliveries and warned of a “biding competition”. “Cohesion within our alliance and our alliances is our greatest asset,” warned the SPD politician. “What harms our unity, on the other hand, is a public outbidding competition along the lines of: battle tanks, submarines, airplanes – who wants more? What harms are pithy domestic political statements and criticism of partners and allies on the open stage.”

dpa

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