EU summit in Brussels: Volodymyr Zelensky calls for new aid for Ukraine

Laura Van Lerberghe, with AFP 09:08 a.m., March 24, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday thanked the Europeans for their military aid but warned that warnings over the supply of long-range missiles and fighter jets risked prolonging the war. Returning from the Kherson region, near the southern front, the president called, via videoconference from a train, the European leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels. The connection was interrupted once, but the Ukrainian president was able to get his message across, a European official said.

"We need more modern aircraft"

He warned against refusing to provide his forces with long-range missiles and modern fighter jets. "We cannot delay the transfer to our soldiers of weapons that can protect Ukrainians from terror. First of all, it is about long-range weapons," Zelensky said, according to a video posted on his Telegram account. "We need more modern aircraft" than the MiGs already sent to Kiev, he added.

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The Ukrainian president also called for the adoption of new sanctions against Russia, progress on his country's accession to the EU and progress on its peace plan. "Ukraine is ready to take a decision on the start of EU accession negotiations as early as this year. All European leaders must show the same urgency," he said. Delays on these various points could "prolong the war", he warned, quoted by the European official.

Conference on children abducted by Russia

The West considers that Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression and that they contribute to this defense with their arms supplies. But many are reluctant to deliver weapons that would escalate the conflict by allowing Ukraine to strike Russia. Some European countries, however, have announced that they are ready to supply Ukraine with Soviet-made fighter jets. Four MIG-29s were delivered to Ukraine on Thursday, the Slovak Defense Ministry said. Poland has also pledged to provide four MIG-29s.

But Kiev is demanding modern fighter-bombers, including American F-16s. The Europeans on Monday approved the allocation of two billion euros to finance joint purchases of artillery ammunition that Ukraine desperately needs to counter the Russian offensive.

The European Union will organize with Warsaw and Kiev a conference to help locate the 16,000 children abducted in Ukraine by Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky is also asking the 27 for new sanctions against Moscow, but also progress on his country's accession to the European Union. His country was ready to begin negotiations this year. He expects "the same eagerness from all European leaders".