Last update: May 03, 2023, 8:43 PM IST
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (File image/Reuters)
Zelensky thanked Niinisto, whose country became NATO’s newest member in April, for its military support so far and said the two agreed to speed up deliveries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday this year will be “decisive” as he reaffirmed his call for heavier weapons ahead of Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia, during a surprise visit to Finland.
“I believe this year will be decisive for us, for Europe, for Ukraine, decisive for victory,” he told reporters during a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto.
Zelensky thanked Niinisto, whose country became NATO’s newest member in April, for its military support so far and said the two agreed to speed up deliveries.
While Ukraine specifically requested advanced fighter jets, Niinisto said that due to Finland’s geographical location – with its long border with Russia – it “couldn’t abandon” its existing planes before delivery. new ones, planned from 2025.
But Zelensky said he was “sure we will have planes” and stressed that so far Ukraine had to first prove itself on the battlefield before securing more advanced military support.
“We will carry out offensive actions, and after that we will receive planes,” he said.
Zelensky also praised Finland for joining NATO and said “Ukraine needs the same security guarantees.”
“The strongest security guarantee for Ukraine is NATO membership,” he said.
Citing NATO’s open door policy, Niinisto said it is “very important” that “all NATO countries can have a common voice on this” ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
Later Wednesday, Zelensky was scheduled to attend a summit bringing together the leaders of the five Nordic nations.
The Ukrainian leader was to have bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Norwegian Jonas Gahr Store, Danish Mette Frederiksen and Icelandic Katrin Jakobsdottir.
“To be in NATO and support the alliances to gain support, fundamental diplomatic work must be done. Ukraine is doing it today,” Daria Zarivna, presidential communications adviser, wrote on Telegram.
All Nordic countries pledged financial and military support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have also joined the international effort to provide heavier weapons to Ukraine by donating some of their own Leopard 2 tanks or offering financial support to acquire them. .
On Tuesday, Denmark announced it was sending 1.7 billion crowns ($250 million) in military aid, its largest donation to date, “to support the upcoming Ukrainian offensive”.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
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