Photo: Paul White Associated Press “We must intensify our joint work with our partners to achieve more: security and tangible coercion of Russia for peace by all means,” declared Volodymyr Zelensky, Monday May 27, 2024 in Madrid.
France Media Agency in Madrid
Posted at 3:41 p.m. Updated at 4:57 p.m.
- Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting Madrid, called on the West to “use all means” to force Russia into peace.
In kyiv, after initially announcing the imminent arrival in Ukraine of French military instructors, the military authorities clarified that the question was under study, but not yet decided.
At a press conference in Madrid alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Ukrainian head of state said: “We must intensify our joint work with our partners to achieve more: security and coercion tangible of Russia to peace by all means. »
We must “put pressure not only on Russia, but also on our partners so that they give us the possibility of defending ourselves,” he added, again demanding anti-aircraft defense systems to be able to intercept the more than 3,000 guided aerial bombs launched by Russia on its country each month.
“Block everything”
A little less than three weeks before a summit for peace in Ukraine planned in Switzerland, Mr. Zelensky rejected the proposal of China and Brazil to invite Russia, believing that it -it was going to “block everything”.
In difficulty on the Eastern and North-Eastern fronts, Ukraine has been demanding for months to be able to strike rear positions and bases Russians in Russian territory with Western weapons. But the Americans and Europeans have so far refused for fear of an escalation, giving a certain advantage to the Kremlin forces
This question is, however, starting to cause debate among the allies.
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During a NATO meeting in Sofia, its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that it was “time to reconsider” the restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine which bind him “with his hands behind his back”. Ukraine against targets on Russian territory. “You have to be very careful,” she said.
The head of British diplomacy, David Cameron, on the other hand, estimated, during a trip to kyiv at the beginning of May, that kyiv could use British weapons as it saw fit, citing its “right” to strike Russian territory.
Questioned on Monday on the subject, Pedro Sánchez declared, evasively, that he did not have “this will”.
“We will be alongside Ukraine as long as it takes”, however, repeated the Prime Minister.
He announced “a commitment to “military aid for 2024 of one billion euros” from Madrid, which had until now provided limited support to kyiv.
Ukraine is demanding notably American Patriot anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems, arguing that it currently only has a quarter of the resources it needs.
Two lost villages
Mr. Zelensky thus specified in Madrid that he needed “seven additional Patriot systems”, including “at least two for Kharkiv”, a city located around forty kilometers from the border and shelled by the Russian army.
Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Spain was initially scheduled for May 17 but was postponed due to the new offensive launched a few days earlier by the Russian army in northeastern Ukraine .
In kyiv, the Ministry of Defense clarified Monday evening that the sending of French military instructors to Ukraine was “still under discussion” with Paris, after the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army came forward further, affirming that France would send them “soon”.
“Since February 2024, Ukraine has expressed interest in the prospect of receiving foreign instructors in Ukraine,” a Defense Ministry statement said. “For the moment, we are still in discussions with France and other countries on this issue.”
In Paris, the French Ministry of Defense is limited to indicating that “training on Ukrainian soil is part of the projects discussed since the conference on support for Ukraine convened by the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron) on February 26”, without confirming the sending of 'instructors.
On the ground, Russian forces continued to advance, claiming the capture of two new locations in eastern Ukraine.
A new strike on an industrial zone in Kharkiv killed a woman on Monday, according to the region's governor.
In the south, at least three people were killed and six others injured in a Russian strike on Snigourivka, a village in the southern region of Mykolaiv, its governor announced.
Russia has continued to nibble since the beginning of May land in Ukraine. To do this, it recruited heavily by offering attractive sales and mobilized the military industry to support its war effort.