By Oyintari Ben
After meeting with UK representatives, the President of Ukraine has taken his request for fighter jets to France and Germany.
On Wednesday night, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the leaders of the two nations in Paris, where they vowed to continue supporting Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron of France and Olaf Scholz of Germany reaffirmed their conviction that Russia cannot triumph in the conflict.
When he meets with European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday, Mr. Zelensky will request additional jets.
In addition to the Leopard 2 tanks that Western countries have just agreed to providing, he thinks the fighter jets and long-range missiles are crucial.
Mr. Zelensky asserted that France and Germany have the ability to be “game-changers” in the conflict with Russia by giving Ukraine combat tanks, contemporary fighter jets, and long-range missiles during a joint news conference on Wednesday evening with Mr. Macron and Mr. Scholz.
It had been considered how to feed the jets, he said, adding that there was “very little time” to do so.
Mr. Macron stated that France was “committed to help Ukraine to triumph and the re-establishment of its rightful rights” and that Ukraine could rely on its support.
“The position is unchanged: Russia must not win this conflict,” added Mr. Scholz.
It’s not yet clear if that indicates that the two countries would agree to supply combat jets.
It has occasionally been said that the chancellor of Germany and the president of France were too slow to help Ukraine.
Mr. Zelensky has previously voiced his displeasure with Mr. Macron for continuing to speak on the phone with Vladimir Putin of Russia after the invasion.
However, the president of Ukraine told the French publication Le Figaro that he thought Mr. Macron had evolved. He said that the fact that he “opened the door” to tank delivery last month demonstrated his dedication to helping Ukraine win.
After his speech to the UK Parliament on Wednesday, Mr. Zelensky will be in Brussels on Thursday.
He also urged London to send fighter jets to aid Ukraine’s military operations there.
Downing Street stated that Ben Wallace, the Defense Secretary, was looking into what aircraft the UK might be able to provide, but emphasized that this was “a long-term solution” and that training pilots might take years.
Russia has stated that if anyone provides Ukraine aircraft, there will be a “reaction” from Moscow.
