The Ukrainian president made a trip with stops in London, Paris and Brussels as the first anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches and Moscow forces regain the initiative on the ground. The aim was, on the one hand, to revive the public opinion of Western partners and their leaders for the need to add more weapons and move faster to Kiev; and to continue with European integration, one week after the Ukraine-EU summit in the Ukrainian capital. Volodymyr Zelensky received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor from the French president, received lavish hugs and compliments, ovations and praise, but immediately took home nothing concrete.
While riding with Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential plane from Paris to the Belgian capital, the Ukrainian leader was received by the President of the Council and the President of the Commission at Brussels airport, “the heart of the European family, to which Ukraine “belongs”, as Ursula von der Leyen stated.
She later said she was impressed with the speed of Ukraine’s reforms, but recalled that there is “a tough road ahead” in the face of a Zelensky who sees his country in the EU as early as this year.
Speaking in the chamber, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola drew a line between the Ukrainians’ sacrifice “for Europe”, for which she defended measures such as “easier trade”, “the fastest possible accession process” and funds for reconstruction, but also for the troops and to supply military equipment. “States should quickly consider providing systems as a next step [de mísseis] range guns and the fighters you need to protect the freedom that too many have taken for granted. Our response must be proportionate to the threat, and the threat is existential.”
With the tables ostensibly turned, it fell to Zelensky to deliver a speech centered on the defense of European values, as opposed to “the anti-European force that is trying to steal Europe from everyone”. In conclusion: “A free Europe is inconceivable without a free Ukraine. Only our victory will guarantee each of the common European values.”
Later, during a joint press conference with von der Leyen and Michel, Zelensky was optimistic about military aid. “No doubt I am very inspired by the statements that Europe will be with us until victory. And today I heard from the leaders of some European states that they are ready to provide us with the necessary weapons, including aircraft.”
As a special guest at the summit of the 27 leaders, he thanked the support in the opening speech, but did not make it clear that his country needs more “artillery, ammunition, modern tanks, long-range missiles and fighter jets”.
The day before, before British parliamentarians, he drew attention to fighter jets, although military experts recall that the most urgent thing will be to obtain long-range missile systems, and that the UK does not have the aircraft that Kiev needs. In the aftermath of Zelensky’s dinner at the Élysée, a French Air Force official confirmed the idea that mirages are a hypothesis and that 13 such fighters are available.
Message to Moldova
The Ukrainian president revealed to EU heads of state and government that Kiev had “intercepted a plan to destroy Moldova by Russian secret services”, which “shows who, when and how will overthrow Moldova’s democracy and establish control about the small country that lies between Ukraine. and Romania. Zelensky said he had warned Chisinau, although he was not sure “whether Moscow actually issued an order to go ahead with the plan”.
Shortly afterwards, Moldovan secret services confirmed that Russia was acting to destabilize the former Soviet republic. “The Intelligence and Security Service confirms that subversive actions aimed at undermining the Republic of Moldova, destabilization and violation of public order have been identified both from the information provided by our Ukrainian partner and from our operational activities.” SIS said it could not yet provide details “because there is a risk that several ongoing operational activities could be compromised”.
Moldova, led by the pro-European Maia Sandu, was granted candidate status for membership of the European Union at the same time as Ukraine. Despite its neutrality, it has been the target of threats from Russia, which has troops there in the breakaway region of Transnistria. A few days ago, the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov said the West wants to transform Moldova “into the next Ukraine” and accused Sandu of wanting to bring the country to NATO and “join Romania”.
Source: DN
