“We need the support of the leaders,” Volodymyr Zelensky implores NATO
“We need the support of leaders, that’s why I’m here,” Volodymyr Zelensky said from NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. The day before, the Ukrainian leader said he was concerned about the consequences of the “tragedy” in Israel for the allies’ contribution to his country. “Your fight is our fight, your security is our security,” NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said alongside Mr. Zelensky.
“International attention is in danger of turning away from Ukraine and that will have consequences,” the Ukrainian head of state warned on a French television channel on Tuesday evening. Mr. Zelensky also called on Westerners to show Israelis that they are not “alone” and encouraged them to come to Israel “to help people, simply to help people who have suffered terrorist attacks.”
Mr Zelenskyy’s participation in this meeting of alliance defense ministers was not planned. Mr. Zelensky said he wanted to tell his allies what Ukraine needed for its counteroffensive against Russia. “It is crucial for us how we get through this winter,” Zelensky also emphasized. He mentioned air defense systems to protect Ukraine’s infrastructure. “Air defense is essential to protect the economy, residents and infrastructure,” assured Mr. Stoltenberg.
“We need more support, artillery and air defense,” Zelensky added. Last winter, Russia bombed Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, repeatedly depriving the population of electricity or heat. A situation that Kiev and its allies do not want to experience again. The focus will be on an anti-aircraft “winter shield” to draw lessons from last year, a NATO-based diplomat summarized this week.