Ukraine’s president demands military aid from West, asks if they’re intimidated by Moscow – National

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visibly irritated, on Saturday demanded Western nations present a fraction of the navy {hardware} of their inventory piles and requested whether or not they have been afraid of Moscow.

A number of nations have promised to ship anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles in addition to small arms however Zelenskyy stated Kyiv wanted tanks, planes and anti-ship techniques.

“That’s what our companions have, that’s what is simply gathering mud there. That is all for not solely the liberty of Ukraine, however for the liberty of Europe,” he stated in a late evening video handle.

Ukraine wanted simply 1% of NATO’s plane and 1% of its tanks and wouldn’t ask for extra, he stated.

“We’ve already been ready 31 days. Who’s answerable for the Euro-Atlantic group? Is it actually nonetheless Moscow, due to intimidation?” he stated.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly insisted that Russia will search to increase additional into Europe if Ukraine falls. NATO although doesn’t again his request for a no-fly zone over Ukraine on the grounds this might provoke a wider struggle.

Earlier within the day Zelenskyy talked to Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda and expressed disappointment that Russian-made fighter plane in Jap Europe had not but been transferred to Ukraine, Zelenskiy’s workplace stated in a press release.

“The value of procrastination with planes is hundreds of lives of Ukrainians,” the workplace quoted him as saying. Zelenskyy stated Poland and the USA had each said their readiness to decide on the planes.

Earlier this month, Washington rejected a shock supply by Poland to switch MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. base in Germany for use to replenish Ukraine’s air power.

(Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar and David Ljunggren, writing by David Ljunggren)