Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implored members of the NATO alliance to rapidly send Kyiv’s forces missiles that are “just sitting there” in warehouses, as he revealed several of his country’s air defense systems had run dry of weapons until the delivery of what he called a “serious package” on Friday morning.
“The issue is not only the systems themselves—there will never be enough launchers. Ukraine has many different systems, brought in at different times, from different sources. What is needed are constant missile packages,” Zelensky said, originally in Ukrainian, at a press conference with Czech leader Petr Pavel during his visit to Kyiv.
“Today, thank God, in the morning we received a serious package. It is now in Ukraine. I can speak about this. But this comes at a huge cost—through immense effort, blood, and human lives. Securing such a package is extremely difficult.
“And when you understand how much is sitting in warehouses, which country has how much of this stock just lying there—but there is, of course, internal legislation that limits how much can be handed over. Every country has minimum stockpile requirements that must remain in storage.
“But honestly—what rules, what laws are we talking about when we are at war and we desperately need this? In some countries, thank God, there is no war, and they have missiles of all types—short-range, medium-range—just sitting there. So what are they for? That is the real question, forgive me for speaking so bluntly.”
Zelensky said that Ukraine “must be respected, not just in words”.
“Words about a ‘strong Ukrainian people’ are not enough. Yes, the Ukrainian people are strong, but they are holding on the same way every soldier at the front is holding on. And this strong people must be maximally supported and protected,” he said.
“That is why we are waiting—immediately—for rapid deliveries of what our partners already have.”
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.Â
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