Ukrainian president says asks eastern European NATO members for defence assistance

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, demanded defense tests from eastern European NATO countries, saying that they were alone while fighting with Russia.

Publication: 25.02.2022 - 10:14
Ukrainian president says asks eastern European NATO members for defence assistance
Abone Ol google-news

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked eastern European Nato members for defence assistance.

According to The Guardian, Zelenskiy spoke with Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on Friday to seek defence assistance from eastern European members of Nato and help in bringing Russia to the negotiating table.

"We need effective international assistance. Discussed this with Andrzej Duda. Appealed to the Bucharest Nine for defence aid, sanctions, pressure on the aggressor. Together we have to put Russia at the negotiating table. We need anti-war coalition.”

'UKRAINE ‘LEFT ALONE’ TO FIGHT RUSSIA'

Ukraine’s president has said his country has been left on its own to fight Russia after the Kremlin launched a large-scale invasion that killed more than 130 Ukrainians in the first day.

In a video address to the nation just after midnight, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said: "We have been left alone to defend our state. Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of Nato membership? Everyone is afraid."

Zelenskiy said that 137 Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, had been killed since the start of the attack early Thursday. Another 316 had been wounded, he said.

The president added that he and his family remained in Ukraine, despite Russia identifying him as “target number one.

"They want to destroy Ukraine politically by taking down the head of state. I am staying in the government quarter together with others. The enemy has designated me as the target number one, and my family as the target number two.”