Zelensky in the Baltic states: We have stopped Russia, but we need more anti-aircraft systems

2024-01-11 08:52:15, Kosova & Bota CNA

Zelensky in the Baltic states: We have stopped Russia, but we need more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that his country's military forces have shown the world that the Russian military can be stopped, but that the Ukrainian government desperately needs Western allies to send in additional air defense systems to stop successive waves of Russian drones and missiles.

In Vilnius, his first stop during a two-day visit to the Baltic countries, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

Afterwards, Mr. Zelenskyy said that "we have proven that Russia can be stopped, that prevention is possible."

But, he added that "we lack modern air defense systems, the ones we need most", to fight against the waves of Russian air attacks. Over 500 drones and missiles hit Ukraine between December 29 and January 2.

Mr. Zelenskyy admitted, however, that reserves are few in countries that can help Ukraine.

"The warehouses are empty," he said. "And there are many challenges for world defense."

UKRAINE AIMS TO BUILD DEFENSE INDUSTRY

As the war approaches two years, Ukraine hopes to expand its defense industry and work on joint projects with other countries to produce more ammunition and weapons.

Ukrainian officials accompanying Mr. Zelenskyy on this trip signed several cooperation agreements with Lithuania on the joint production of weapons. Other such agreements are expected to be signed during meetings in Latvia and Estonia on Thursday.

"We know how tiring this protracted war is and we are interested in the complete victory of Ukraine as soon as possible," Lithuanian President Nauseda told reporters.

The three small Eastern European countries are among Ukraine's staunchest political, financial and military allies. Many people in these Baltic countries worry that they could become Moscow's next target.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda

These three countries were captured by Russian forces and annexed by Joseph Stalin during World War II. They regained their independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and joined NATO in 2004, placing themselves under the military protection of the United States and Western allies.

"Democratic countries have done a lot to help Ukraine, but we must do more together so that Ukraine wins and the aggressor loses," Estonian President Alar Karis said in a statement.

"Then there is hope that this will remain the last military aggression in Europe, when someone wants to dictate to their neighbor with missiles, drones and cannons what political choices can be made," he said.

WESTERN AID FALLS

As the Ukraine-Russia war drags on, Western military supplies to Ukraine have dwindled. In the United States, President Joe Biden's request for more aid to Ukraine has stalled in Congress, while Europe's promise in March to provide 1 million artillery shells within 12 months has not been fulfilled, with only about 300,000 shells sent so far. now.

But Russian attacks on Ukraine have continued. Russian S-300 missiles hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, late Tuesday. Several buildings were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

The United States, most European Union member states and more than 20 other countries issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning North Korea's sale of missiles to Russia and the Russian military's continued use of those missiles during attacks on Ukraine.

The statement said the attacks took place on December 30 and January 2, and that signatory countries are closely monitoring what Russia is offering North Korea in exchange for the missiles.

"The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia's war of aggression and undermines the global non-proliferation regime," the statement said. "[North Korea's] use of ballistic missiles in Ukraine also provides valuable technical and military knowledge" to Pyongyang.

Among the signatories of the joint statement are the foreign ministers of Argentina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Norway and South Korea./ VOA