The morning after Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky was greeted as a hero in Europe, his country was hit with one of the most positive atmospheres campaigns in the invasion is almost a year old.
Russia, show Its advantage from the sky, hit critical infrastructure, sending much of the country into another blackout. Zelensky, who had asked Europe for fighters and air protection, used the attack to emphasize what he was most lacking in the war of aggression.
The city of Zaporizhzhia to the south — which was hit by 35 incoming missiles — and the city of Khmelnytskyi to the west were particularly hard hit in Friday’s attack. Zelensky has warned that Russia will step up its offensive in the coming months and that fighter jets in particular will be most useful.
So far, Europe has sent tanks, ammunition and air defense systems, but opposes sending American-made fighters. They formally asked the Netherlands for help, which was met with hesitation. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said: “Ukraine actually asked for help with the fighter aircraft. “We always take all Ukraine’s requests very seriously. They are fighting that war, they are being attacked by Russia. But fighters, that’s very complicated.”
Despite the cozy dinner between Emmanuel Macron and Zelensky on the eve of his speech to the European Parliament, France has also refused to give Zelensky the weapons it really wants — at least for now. “There is no way that fighter jets can be delivered in the next few weeks, because it takes time to train, deliver and train planes that are not familiar to Ukrainian pilots,” Macron said. “So I don’t rule it out.”
The reluctance to provide Ukraine with stronger air power and even longer-range missiles is due to fears that Ukraine could then attack Russia inside its territory, which could dramatically change the game. of the year-long conflict.
