Zelenskyy calls on EU to give jets, missiles or expect a long war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told European leaders to rapidly increase the supply of modern weapons to his forces, particularly jet fighters and long-range missile systems, otherwise, they should prepare for the war dragging on for years.

Speaking on a train to Kyiv after his third visit in two days to war-ravaged areas near the front lines in the south and east of Ukraine, Zelenskyy gave an emotional account of what he had seen as he addressed a summit of European Union leaders gathered in Brussels via video link, Al Jazeera reports, citing an EU official.

In a long and sharply worded address at times, Zelenskyy on March 23 said it was up to the EU as a bloc to take action to contain Russia as its invasion of Ukraine enters the second year.

While he welcomed a recent EU plan to send Kyiv 1 million artillery shells, he kept up his demands for warplanes and missiles that he believes will be more effective at pushing back Russian forces.

Zelenskyy’s comments represented an unusually open display of frustration with European nations who have donated to Ukraine’s war effort. He also complained that the EU appeared to be in no hurry to impose more sanctions against Moscow.

“If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war. It is in your power to prevent this,” he told EU leaders.

It was the EU, the Ukrainian leader said, that had delayed decisions on providing long-range weapons and modern fighter aircraft as well as in moving forward with talks on granting his country EU membership.