– The fighter jets will be part of how we will defend our infrastructure. It is part of the air force and we do not have the fighter jets that can counter the Russian attacks. And we really need these, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in a recent interview with CNN.
– Are the fighter jets something that will decide the war for Ukraine?
– Yes, we think so, replies Zelenskyj bluntly.
Clear message to Biden
He says that he spoke to President Joe Biden about precisely the delivery of fighter jets when the latter visited Kyiv at the end of February. Biden had previously been clear that Ukraine does not need a delivery of American fighter jets.
– President Biden has his position that Ukraine does not need them right now. I said no and that we need these fighter planes and that it is an important part of the Ukrainian Air Force. They can protect the airspace and that is why we need them as soon as possible, says Zelenskyj.
He claims that several countries are waiting precisely for the USA’s decision regarding the F-16 aircraft and that the USA’s decision is therefore extra important.
– We will work on this problem and now the ball is in the USA’s hands.
At the same time, Zelenskyj also thanked Biden for America’s support so far and the president’s surprise trip to Kyiv.
The self-fulfilling prophecy of doom
Invites McCarthy to Ukraine
In the United States, some parts of the Republican Party have shown less enthusiasm for continuing support for Ukraine. The leader of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, has stated, among other things, that he does not want to give Ukraine a so-called “blank cheque”. Something that can be translated into a cash flow without limits.
In last night’s interview with CNN, the Ukrainian president invited McCarthy to Ukraine.
– I met him in the congress and he supports us, but he has never been to Ukraine. And I think that would change his mind. When someone sees the consequences of the war, they quickly change their opinion, Zelenskyj says.
McCarthy, for his part, refuses to accept the invitation.
– I don’t need to go to Ukraine to see it. I don’t want to issue a blank check to anyone, he says without explaining what that means in practice.
Don’t want to talk to Putin
During the interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, the Ukrainian president was clear that the country will emerge victorious from the war in the end.
But it will happen without him meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the present time.
– He does not keep his word and we have no confidence in him. He killed thousands of people to discuss a solution to the war. For us to discuss it, Russia must leave our territories.