President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in person at a meeting of Ukraine’s international helpers in Germany on Friday, calling for more weapons as Kiev faces advancing Russian forces in the east and devastating strikes by Moscow.
He will also meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then head to Italy, following a meeting at Ramstein Air Base, which comes days after 55 people were killed and 300 wounded in a Russian rocket attack on the city of Poltava.
“We need more weapons to drive Russian forces away from our country,” Zelensky said.
He also called on supporters of Kiev to fulfill previous commitments, saying: “The number of air defense systems that have not been delivered is significant.”
And he again called for the lifting of restrictions on the use of Western long-range weapons to target targets inside Russia.
“We must have this long-range capability, not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on Russian territory,” said Zelensky.
The host of the meeting at the base southwest of Frankfurt is US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who announced that Washington will provide $250 million in new military aid to Ukraine.
The package will “contribute additional capabilities to meet Ukraine’s growing requirements,” Austin said at the meeting, according to AFP.
