Davos 2023-Ukraine’s Zelenskiy believes tank supplies should be faster

KYIV (Reuters) – The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskiy said Wednesday to the World Economic Forum that Western supplies for tanks and air defense units should be more rapid and delivered quicker than Russia.

Zelenskiy spoke to Western allies via video link prior to meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday. The focus of the meeting was on whether Berlin would allow its Leopard battle tank supply to Kyiv to aid in the Russian invasion.

Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine must be supplied with air defense systems to counter Russia’s next missile attack. “Russian tanks can be invaded by western tanks only if they are not supplied with enough tanks.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in April 2011, Moscow’s forces have seized large areas of Ukraine’s south and east. While the battleground momentum has been with Kyiv over months, Moscow has invested huge resources in trying to advance to the east.

“Everyday, there are fights within the east. Zelenskiy declared that we stand strong and will continue to do so.

On Wednesday, his interior minister died in a helicopter crash. He was then asked if he was concerned for his own security. He replied that he wasn’t worried.

“My views are the same. He stated that ammunition is needed and that he was not in a hurry to get it.

Zelenskiy asked forum participants to observe a minute’s silence before he gave his speech to remember the 14 victims of the helicopter crash. They included the minister, crew members, and a child.

He said Russia exported “terror” and pointed to a Russian missile strike that decimated an apartment building and left at least 45 dead. Moscow blamed Ukraine’s air defenses for the civilian attack.

(Reporting by Max Hunder, Aleksandar Vasovic and Timothy Heritage; writing by Tom Balmforth; edited by Timothy Heritage