Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed the need for further arms deliveries in addition to the battle tanks that have now been promised.

"Russian aggression can only be stopped with adequate weapons," said Zelenskyy in his evening video address on Thursday.

Ukraine also needs combat aircraft to defend itself against the Russian invasion, which has been going on for eleven months.

"The terror state will not understand it otherwise," Zelenskyj justified his demand for further arms deliveries.

The most recent wave of Russian attacks with at least eleven dead a few hours earlier had shown this again, he emphasized.

On Wednesday, the German government decided to hand over 14 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces as a first step.

Other countries should also receive permission to pass on the tanks made in Germany to the attacked country.

In addition, the United States wants to contribute Abrams main battle tanks.

Selenskyj thanked Chancellor Scholz and US President Joe Biden for this – but also insisted on the additional delivery of long-range missiles, fighter jets and more artillery.

However, Scholz has ruled out the delivery of combat aircraft or even the deployment of ground troops.

Poland for delivery of fighter planes

Poland's government, in turn, would support NATO if it decided to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.

"I think we, NATO, have to be braver," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told French broadcaster LCI.

But of course it could only be a decision of NATO as a whole, said the head of government.

The United States and France do not rule out the delivery of fighter jets.

US President Biden's Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told MSNBC it had not ruled out any specific weapons system and would tailor support based on what Ukraine needs.

"We will discuss this very carefully," Finer said on Thursday.

According to British media reports, the chairman of the Defense Committee of the French National Assembly, Thomas Gassilloud, said similarly on Thursday in London: "We must examine requests on a case-by-case basis and leave all doors open."

Canada sends four Leopard main battle tanks

In his most recent speech, Selenskyj thanked Canada in particular, which had announced a few hours earlier that it would also be delivering four Leopard tanks.

The “Panzer Coalition” now consists of twelve countries.

The delivery of the battle tanks will take place "in the coming weeks," said Canada's Defense Minister Anita Anand.

In addition, Canadian soldiers should support their Ukrainian counterparts in commissioning the tanks.

Canada is considering sending more tanks at a later date.

First Ukrainians for tank training in Germany

The first Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Germany for training on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle.

The group landed in Cologne on Thursday and should soon start training on the weapon system, the German Press Agency learned from security circles.

The training is part of military aid to Ukraine, which is to be given 40 martens.

The United States is sending Bradley armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.

The US government has said the delivery of Abrams main battle tanks is not a "symbolic" act. It has heard statements that the US announcement was only intended to clear the way for allies to ship tanks, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.

However, this is not the case.

The US main battle tanks would give Ukraine an advantage on the battlefield, Singh said.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine could drag on for years.

The provision of the Abrams tanks therefore shows the long-term commitment of the USA.

Explosions near the nuclear power plant

The United Nations nuclear regulatory agency on Thursday reported several powerful explosions near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and again called for a safety zone around the plant.

"Eight strong detonations were heard around 10 a.m. local time yesterday and there were more today," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

Rosenergoatom, the operator of the Russian nuclear power plants, called the statements unfounded and a provocation.

According to the Ukrainian military, there was also a wave of new attacks during the night.

At least 11 people were killed in several regions, said a spokesman for state civil protection.

Air alert also accompanies the morning rush hour in the capital Kyiv.

There, people seek shelter in the subway stations.

Council of Europe calls for tribunal on war in Ukraine

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe unanimously called for the establishment of an international war crimes tribunal.

The tribunal in The Hague should prosecute the political and military leaders of Russia and its ally Belarus who "planned, prepared, initiated or carried out" the war of aggression against Ukraine, the organization's assembly, which is not part of the EU, said in Strasbourg .

Japan freezes the assets of other Russian individuals and organizations.

As the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Friday, citing the government in Tokyo, this affects 36 people and 52 organizations, including Russian politicians, officers, businessmen and companies.

In addition to freezing funds, the additional sanctions also include export bans.