Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has demanded that Western nations hand over military hardware that has been ‘gathering dust’ in stockpiles, claiming that NATO nations are unwilling to provide Ukraine with jets and tanks because they are intimidated by Russia.
Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began on February 24, NATO nations have provided Ukraine with anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as small arms and protective equipment, but no heavy armour such as tanks or fighter planes.
Zelensky accused the West of withholding supplies because it was afraid of Russia, and he suggested that Moscow is in charge of NATO.
Zelensky stated in a late-night address on Saturday, March 26:
‘We require more ammunition.’ We’ve already waited 31 days. What is NATO up to?
‘Who governs the Euro-Atlantic community?’ Is it still Moscow as a result of intimidation? We are only asking for 1% of NATO’s budget, nothing more.’
Zelensky also angrily warned Moscow that its constant artillery barrages and aerial bombings are reducing cities to rubble, killing civilians, and driving others into hiding.
‘You are doing everything possible to make our people abandon the Russian language, because the Russian language will now be associated only with you, with your explosions and murders, with your crimes,’ Zelenskyy said.
His remarks came after an attack on a nuclear research facility in the besieged city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, on Saturday.
