Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a dramatic appeal for European support in matters of energy and anti-aircraft defense, speaking via video link at the European Council meeting, while hinting that Ukraine does not have the same protection as Israel.
“Here in Ukraine, in a part of Europe, unfortunately we do not have the level of defense that we all saw in the Middle East a few days ago. When, thanks to the combined power of the allies, they managed to shoot down almost all the missiles and drones that attacked Israel,” said Zelensky. “We have to protect Europe from ballistic missiles and Shaheds (also drones), from cruise missiles and bombs, as happened in the skies of Israel and other countries in the region,” he said then, stressing that “the skies of Ukraine and the skies of our neighbors deserve the same security.”
Zelensky thanked Germany and Chancellor Scholz for the decision to send an additional Patriot system and air defense missiles to Ukraine. He insisted, however, that Ukraine is in greater need of help, stressing that Russia has already destroyed important energy infrastructure (dams and hydroelectric plant equipment, as well as natural gas infrastructure). He also emphasized that Russia continues blackmail and “plays” with the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, while threatening the infrastructure of other nuclear power plants.
The deficiencies are huge
“This can only be stopped by air defense – by specific systems like Patriot, IRIS-T, SAMP-T, NASAMS… Systems you have. They are needed in Ukraine right now,” Zelensky said, adding that they also need weapons for Ukrainian soldiers, artillery shells, vehicles, drones.
Ukraine’s president called on European leaders to speed up their promises regarding artillery shells and agreements on the joint production of arms and ammunition, because this is reflected in the war front and the Ukrainian soldiers who “still, unfortunately, have to wait ».
In addition, Zelensky said that Ukraine needs specific energy support in order to restore electricity production and distribution after the Russian strikes, while he thanked the Europeans for tangible help with equipment.
Finally, Zelenskiy said that the people of Ukraine also need the political support of the EU regarding the country’s accession path, saying that “June would be the right time to actually start negotiations, to adopt a negotiating framework and start the first intergovernmental conference”.
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