Zelensky calls for providing Ukraine with warplanes and long-range missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned European Union leaders today, Thursday, that the “delay” in providing his country with warplanes and long-range missiles could prolong the war, according to a European official.

From inside a train carriage, Zelensky delivered, via video, a speech to a summit of the bloc in Brussels, after his visit to areas devastated by battles along the front line between his forces and the Russian army.

The European official told reporters covering the summit that secure contact with Zelensky was briefly interrupted. He said the Ukrainian president welcomed a plan approved by the European Union this week aimed at supplying Kiev with one million artillery shells over the next 12 months, according to AFP.

But Zelensky insisted that the delay in providing his country with modern warplanes and long-range missiles may lead to prolongation of the war, according to the official.

Zelensky during his visit to the Kherson region

Zelensky also urged European leaders to impose more sanctions on Moscow, accelerate his country’s request to join the bloc, and strengthen support for the peace plan proposed by Kiev.

The Ukrainian president has long pleaded with his Western allies to send advanced warplanes and long-range missiles to help defeat Russian forces.

At the start of the summit, Slovakia announced that it had sent four Soviet-era MiG-29 warplanes to Ukraine, after it was the first country besides Poland to commit to sending these old-fashioned aircraft.

But Kiev’s allies have so far refrained from providing Western-made warplanes.

Before participating in the European Union summit via video link, Zelensky inspected the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, which is partially controlled by Russian forces.

The EU official pointed out that Zelensky gave a moving description of the destruction he saw during his visit to the region and to the city of Bakhmut, which is witnessing fierce battles in eastern Ukraine.