DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his frustration Thursday at an event held under the auspices of the World Economic Forum in Davos that he had not obtained enough tanks from some Western countries to help kyiv fend off Russia. .
In his speech by videoconference at a breakfast with US Senator Chris Coons; Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Zelenskyy launched a veiled criticism of nations such as Germany, Poland and the United States — key supporters of his country — which, however, have hesitated to send tanks.
Zelenskyy lamented the “lack of specific weapons” and pointed out that to win the war “we cannot do it only with motivation and morality”.
“And I would like to thank our partners again for the help,” he told the breakfast hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, through an interpreter. “But at the same time, there are times when we shouldn’t hesitate or we shouldn’t compare when someone says: ‘I’ll give tanks if someone else shares theirs too’.”
The president also pointed out that air defense was “our weakness” in view of Moscow’s targeted attacks, including those carried out by Iranian-made drones, and reiterated his call for long-range artillery to fire at Kremlin forces on Ukrainian soil. , not against Russia itself.
For months, Ukraine has tried to take delivery of heavy tanks, such as the American Abrams or the German Leopard 2, but Western leaders have been cautious.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is facing mounting pressure to supply main battle tanks, dodged a question on the matter on Wednesday, instead reiterating that Berlin was one of the main suppliers of military equipment to Ukraine and that it sent air defense systems and armored personnel carriers.
“We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Scholz said after a speech in Davos.
Britain announced last week that it will supply Challenger 2 tanks to kyiv, while Poland and the Czech Republic have sent Soviet-era T-72s.
German officials have been reluctant to allow the allies to provide Leopards unless Washington does the same for the Abrams, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.
For its part, Poland has expressed its willingness to contribute a Leopards company, but only within a larger international coalition to send tanks.
“Give them the tanks, give Volodymyr Zelenskyy what he needs,” Boris Johnson said during the working breakfast.
Zelenskyy used his speech before political and business leaders gathered at the Swiss ski resort of Davos to urge his allies to overcome doubts.
“The supply of air defense systems to Ukraine must overcome Russia’s vast missile attacks. Western tank supply must outweigh another Russian tank invasion,” he said during his video address.
The Ukrainian delegation in Davos, which includes Zelenskyy’s wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, has been pushing for more aid. But you never know for sure how many concrete actions are taken at a meeting where political and business leaders discuss global issues ranging from climate change to the economic slowdown, as well as strike deals at side events.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine’s Western allies will discuss ways to send heavy and more advanced weapons this week.
“The main message will be: more support, more advanced support, more heavy weapons and more modern weapons,” Stoltenberg said during a meeting of senior defense officials in Germany. The meeting was attended by US Secretary Lloyd Austin, who works to coordinate the military aid to kyiv.
“This is a fight for our values, this is a fight for democracy. And we have to show that democracy defeats tyranny and oppression,” added the NATO leader.
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Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
