Zelinsky calls on the West for long-range missiles and fighter jets

“We must also allow long-range missiles to be sent to Ukraine, this is important. We must also expand our cooperation in the field of artillery and (allow) the sending of combat aircraft,” Zelensky said in his daily video-evening speech.

The Ukrainian president, who celebrated his 45th birthday on Wednesday, said that he had repeated this request to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a phone conversation that took place between them.

Zelensky also thanked his US counterpart, Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for the decision they issued on Wednesday, in which they announced their agreement to send Western tanks to Ukraine, in a precedent of its kind since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

“I thank all our allies for their willingness to give us indispensable modern tanks,” the Ukrainian president said.

However, Zelensky stressed that the “key” to defeating the Russian forces lies in the “speed and quantity” with which his country will obtain these heavy tanks.

“The key now is speed and quantity. The speed of training our soldiers, the speed of delivery of tanks…and the amount of support,” he said.