Zelensky Eurobound Focus warcraft

From London to Paris to Brussels, Ukraine President Zelensky’s meetings with world leaders were dominated by one issue: Ukraine’s request for advanced Western fighter jets. In his speech to the European Parliament, he also stressed that Ukraine is fighting to defend Europe’s eastern borders.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels on Feb. 9, Ukrainian President Voloyev Zelensky portrayed Ukraine as a country fighting to defend Europe’s eastern borders and urged the European Union to admit it as soon as possible. He also continued earlier gestures in London and Paris, calling on European countries to provide advanced fighter jets and long-range weapons. In a later meeting with leaders of European Union member states, Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine “needs artillery, ammunition, advanced tanks and fighter jets, long-range artillery faster than the aggressors.” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who attended the meeting, responded that it was important for Europe to speed up military aid and that all member states had seen what they could give in their warehouses, “but we should do more.”

But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is relatively close to Mr. Putin, didn’t applaud as others did when he posed for a photo with the leaders, including Mr. Zelensky. He also said on social media that Hungary would provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Notably, Orban’s post only emphasized the ceasefire, but did not mention Ukraine’s victory. “Hungary belongs to the peace camp,” Orban said.

Britain agreed to provide pilot training.

“This is an essential weapon for peace,” Zelensky said at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Oleksandr Scholz on the evening of February 8. “The war that Russia started must be ended.” Ukraine’s president told the German and French leaders that the sooner Ukraine’s air force gets Western fighter jets and its tanks become more powerful, the sooner Russian aggression will be stopped and “we can win back a secure peace in Europe.”

Earlier on February 8, Zelensky also called for advanced fighter jets in Britain.

The French president promised Zelensky to help Ukraine achieve victory against Russian aggression and to support the restoration of its legal rights. Paris will continue its efforts to supply Kiev with arms.”

German Chancellor Olga Scholz, also in Paris, pledged to come to Ukraine’s aid for as long as necessary: “We reiterate once again that Russia cannot be allowed to win this war.” Scholz also said Ukraine belongs to the European family, and Zelensky’s attendance at the EU summit in Brussels on February 9 is a strong signal of solidarity to Kiev.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Scholz visited Kiev in June 2022. A few days later, Ukraine secured its candidacy to join the European Union. The Paris meeting was the second between the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to the press before a dinner at the French presidential palace, the French and German leaders avoided discussing the fighter jets. After the dinner, officials from the three countries did not disclose anything about the conversation.