He said he was looking for only 1% of NATO’s existing aircraft and tanks. “And we’ve been waiting 31 days already. So, who is running the Euro-Atlantic community? Is it Moscow because of the danger?” he wondered to his supporters.
He accused the West of “ping-ponging about who and how to give up jets,” according to The Associated Press.
Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied with taking Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy. Once he has achieved power in Ukraine, he will simply move on to the next European country.
“I’ve spoken to the defenders of Mariupol today,” Zelenskyy said. “I am in regular contact with them. Their resolve, bravery, and tenacity are remarkable. If only those who have spent 31 days planning how to give dozens of jets and tanks had a fraction of their bravery.”
In addition, Zelenskyy claimed that the United States and NATO were “afraid to prevent this tragedy.” They “are afraid to make a single decision” in order to avoid it, he said.
“Our allies must increase their assistance for Ukraine.”
On Saturday, a Reuters reporter contacted the Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Colonel Yuri Ignat, who said that his country’s pilots had spent many years training with their American counterparts because they “knew there could be something like this.”
“The equipment we are fighting with is from the ’70s and ’80s; they are using equipment from 2010 and beyond,” he added. “We would be thankful for any Soviet-made equipment offered to us by Central European countries that still have it. It will not, however, be enough.”
“We need fighter jets to defeat the Russians,” Ignat said. “We want F15, F16 and other western planes. We don’t request for anything more than the F35 jet.”
NATO has already given significant assistance to Ukraine, and it will continue to do so. Congress just passed a $13.6 billion aid package for Ukraine two weeks ago.
A true war between Russia and NATO would be a tragedy. And suggesting that the West is spineless isn’t particularly useful. Perhaps he should tone down his language.
