Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged Western allies to step up military aid to his country, warning that delays have favored Russia and cost lives.
“There is no alternative to speed, because speed is what life depends on”emphasized the Ukrainian head of state during his participation by video conference in the Munich security conference in Germany.
Ukraine depends on Western weapons to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to conquer large parts of the neighboring country.
Military aid has also become a test of Western governments’ resolve in the face of rising financial costs.
Around 40 heads of state and government, politicians and security experts from nearly 100 countries are expected at the three-day conference.
In a call for more Western weapons, Zelensky compared Ukraine’s struggle against the Russian invasion to the biblical battle between David and Goliath, claiming that his country had David’s courage but needed help.
Zelensky also assured that Ukraine will overcome Moscow’s aggression, even predicting victory this year, but warned that Russia “could still destroy many lives”.
“That’s why we have to hurry. We need speed”emphasized the Ukrainian ruler.
Also at the Munich conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked countries that can supply main battle tanks to Ukraine to do so, noting that shipments promised by the Allies are coming too late.
French President Emmanuel Macron admitted on Friday that allies are prepared “for a protracted conflict” in Ukraine, urging countries backing Kiev to be “credible” in their efforts and to “reinvest massively” in their respective countries. defense.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Several heads of state and government, ministers and leaders of international organizations will be attending the Munich Security Conference in the coming days, an event taking place on the eve of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
A few days before the end of a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, conflict will be the dominant theme of the conference, which will run through Sunday.
In addition to Macron, US Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Director of the Communist Party Commission of China, Wang Yi, and the foreign minister from Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, will also be present in Munich.
No Russian representative has been announced at the conference to date.
Source: DN
