War would be over if others were as brave as Britain declares Zelensky
UKRAINE would now be liberated from Russia’s invasion if other countries stepped up and showed the same courage as Britain, PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky declared.
The Ukrainian leader said yesterday that the Kremlin is “annoyed” by the two nations close ties during the war.
And he warned that some politicians in Europe are still “not ashamed” of their links to Vladimir Putin.
The UK, along with the US, is one of the largest suppliers of arms to the war-torn country. Some European nations have been criticised for failing to send more arms or support an oil embargo.
Mr Zelensky said the Kremlin’s missile strikes during Boris Johnson’s speech to the Ukrainian parliament earlier this week showed the two countries are “really strong in defending freedom in Europe”.
He said: “If everyone in the world – or at the vast majority – were steadfast and courageous leaders as Ukraine, as Britain, I am sure we would have already ended this war and restored peace throughout liberated territory for all our people.”
The Prime Minister became the first Western leader to address the parliament in Kyiv earlier this week, where he was given numerous standing ovations.
During the speech he pledged an additional £300million in military support, including drones, Brimstone missiles and armoured vehicles. The UK has already provided thousands of anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft missiles and armoured ambulances. Stormer launchers will also be sent to give troops vehicles that carry Starstreak laser-guided anti-aircraft missiles, a roving threat to Russian jets and helicopters.
European diplomats have been locked in tough negotiations over a proposed new package of sanctions against Russia, with Hungary against a ban on Moscow’s oil imports.
The plan involves phasing out crude oil over six months and refined products by the end of 2022. Hungary and Slovakia would be given an extension allowing them to keep importing until the end of 2023. But they say that is not enough, while the Czech Republic has asked to be given the same flexibility.
In a speech Mr Zelensky, who later presented medals to Ukrainian servicemen and women in Kyiv, said: “Russian troops today, as every day during this war, have continued to bomb our cities and our people.
“My traditional morning meeting with the leadership of the army, with officials and diplomats was accompanied by the sound of air raid sirens. This is our reality. “Missile strikes every day. The day before yesterday, on the day when you, Boris, addressed parliament, addressed our parliament, the Russian army launched 15 missile strikes at Ukraine. This can be called a certain ‘Russian compliment’ to your brilliant speech and our fruitful interstate cooperation. Obviously Russia is annoyed by our proximity, Ukraine and Britain.
“So this means that we are really strong in defending freedom in Europe. Bravery is rightly believed the first of human qualities as it guarantees all others. Thank you, Britain.Thank you, Boris.Thank you all.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticised “hostile rhetoric” coming out of Poland and accused Warsaw of being “a source of threat”.
Poland has led calls for the EU to toughen sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his cronies and for the Western Nato alliance to arm Ukraine. Polish minister Anna Moskwa said earlier this week her country was “proud to be on Putin’s list of unfriendly countries”.