Ukraine war: Zelensky asks Europe for fighter jets
President Zelensky has renewed his request for fighter jets, a day after asking the UK, the Ukrainian president has asked France and Germany to reconsider their position.
He met the two countries’ leaders in Paris on Wednesday evening, where they pledged their ongoing support to Ukraine.
Both leaders – France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz restated their belief that Russia must not win the war.
Zelensky is asking for fighter jets and long-range missiles for Ukraine – the West recently committed to sending tanks to the war-torn country. He is expected to make the request again when he meets EU leaders on Thursday in Brussels.
At a joint news conference, Mr Zelensky said France and Germany had potential to be “game-changers” in the battle against Russia by providing Ukraine with battle tanks, modern fighter planes and long-range missiles.
He said the supply of jets had been discussed and warned there was “very little time” to provide the weaponry.
Mr Macron said Ukraine could count on France’s support and that the country was “determined to help Ukraine to victory and the re-establishment of its legitimate rights”.
Mr Scholz also said: “The position is unchanged: Russia must not win this war.”
Whether that means the two nations may commit to supplying fighter jets is unclear for now.
Both France and Germany have been criticised at times for being too slow to support Ukraine. And Macron faced backlash for continuing to take phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the invasion.
The day before, Zelensky thanked the UK for supporting Ukraine from the start and renewed his calls for British jets.
Downing Street said Ben Wallace was investigating what jets the UK could send but emphasised that this was “a long-term solution” and training pilots could take years.
Russia has warned there will be a “response” from Moscow if anyone did provide Ukraine with an aircraft.
