ПОЛІТИКА
Ukraine needs a lot of equipment and weapons not to wait for a Russian offensive, but for Russia to wait for the offensive of Ukrainian troops and to think about how to leave the territory of our state. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives at the Bovington camp military base after talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“As to when to expect an offensive, we live in a state of war, and to think when the offensive will begin… Has it stopped? a different power. Let the Russians sit and think when the Ukrainian offensive will begin. And they were thinking about how to get out of our territory,” Volodymyr Zelenskyi said.
Responding to journalists’ questions about what equipment and weapons Ukraine needs today, the President stressed that needs depend on both the battlefield situation in specific areas and what is happening inside our country. Volodymyr Zelensky recalled that the enemy has thousands of armored vehicles, even of Soviet production.
“Of course, the latest Western-style, NATO-standard equipment is better. But you can have ten of the best tanks in the world, and you’ll have thousands of Soviet-made tanks against you. Then you don’t have to no chance. And we do not agree with such an outcome, because we have no way out. This is our land and we will definitely win. That’s why tanks, armored vehicles, planes of combat – we devoted a lot of time to them today, and an important first step has been taken,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
According to him, he will address these issues today and tomorrow during meetings with the leaders of European countries.
The president stressed that one of the priorities was long-range weapons, and he is very happy that Britain has heard Ukraine’s needs.
“I would really like other countries to hear us. It allows us to push back the enemy so that there is life even in the cities that we have vacated. So that people can just live there,” said he explained.
The Head of State also recalled that Ukraine is fighting hundreds of Iranian drones and various missiles, including ballistic ones, which hit the power grid and civilian objects.
“This is why we need air defense systems. We thank the partners who provide these systems. Thanks to this, people work and pay taxes. These funds are used for social services, pensions, salaries of teachers and doctors, and for the salaries of military personnel,” the president said.
Regarding the issue of supplying fighter jets to Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during the negotiations he heard a signal from the British Prime Minister about the possibility of supplying them.
“Today I heard from the Prime Minister that he wanted to provide us with planes. The first step – the Prime Minister officially said – is that we can start training our pilots”, said the head of the State.
At the same time, he noted that not everything depended on Britain’s will in the matter.
For his part, Rishi Sunak stressed that his country is aware of Ukraine’s needs and is one of the leaders in aid. He reminded that the Challenger tanks will be at the front in a few weeks and that the British side is doing everything to prepare the Ukrainian army for their use as soon as possible.
According to the Prime Minister, during negotiations with the President of Ukraine, the issue of the transfer of fighter jets was also discussed.
“We are ready to supply everything, but first there must be pilots ready to operate such complex weapons. Because when it comes to brand new fighter jets, it takes three years to training pilots. There are already fighter pilots in Ukraine, but they still need to be trained. This is what we discussed with Mr. President today,” Rishi Sunak said and added that the issue the transfer of planes to Ukraine was also under discussion with the allies.