On Russia

Zelenskyi wants attacks with Western weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi takes stock of the situation in Kharkiv.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ukarainian Presidental Press)

Following the deadly bomb attacks on the city of Kharkiv near the border (see video above), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is calling for the right to use Western weapons against Russian territory.

Many foreign politicians and organizations have expressed their condolences and condemned Russia, Selenskyj said in his video address on Sunday. "It is important that this condemnation leads to appropriate consequences."

More than 20 people have been killed by Russian bombing in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine since Thursday. Ukraine needs more air defense, said Selenskyj. And it needs the right to fire its foreign weapons into Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes stock of the situation in Kharkiv.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ukarainian Presidental Press)

"We see every concentration point of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and fighter planes are being launched," he said. It is a political decision to allow the destruction of these forces before they attack Ukraine, he said. "A decision that must be made."

F-16 delivery must be accelerated
It is also necessary to accelerate the promised delivery of US F-16 fighter jets in order to increase the pressure on the Russian front, warned Selenskyj. Countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark are ceding these jets to Ukraine.

Ukrainian pilots have completed training for this type of aircraft. According to unofficial information, the first F-16s are expected to arrive in Ukraine in a few weeks. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for more than two years. It is currently lagging behind militarily, which is partly due to a halt in Western arms aid lasting several months.