The Ukrainian counter-offensive is “not going fast, but we are making progress,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday. At a press conference following the meeting with his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces “are not retreating like the Russians.” “We now have the initiative,” said Zelensky.
Zelensky is touring NATO member states in the run-up to a NATO summit next week. Ukraine hopes for promises from NATO about future membership and further support as long as the war lasts. The NATO summit must lead to concrete decisions, Zelensky stated. “We need honesty in our relationship with NATO,” the Ukrainian president said.
“It is in the interest of the Czech Republic that talks on Ukrainian Nato membership are held once the war is over,” Pavel said. He stressed that Ukraine can continue to count on Czech support. Pavel said he sees no solution to the war other than a Ukrainian victory. The Czech president added that next week’s NATO summit should discuss cooperation with Ukraine as long as the country is not yet a member.
Zelensky was in Bulgaria earlier on Thursday where he spoke to Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, among others. Bulgaria is a major arms producer and is said to be planning to supply arms directly to Ukraine. Previously, the country only did this through third parties. Bulgaria also supports Ukrainian Nato membership after the war.
A visit to Ankara is scheduled for Friday, where Zelensky will speak to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey often acts as a mediator in, for example, the grain deal between Ukraine and Russia. According to Slovak media, Zelensky will also visit Bratislava. (AP)
ANP/EPA – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel during their meeting in Prague on Thursday.
2023-07-07 06:00:00
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