Zelensky to attend EU summit to seek weapons, aircraft

The Ukrainian president began a surprise tour of Europe on February 8th, visiting Britain and France, marking his second trip abroad since the Russian invasion almost a year ago.

After his visit to Britain, the Ukrainian president left for Paris for dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

His participation at the EU summit in Brussels will be “a signal of European solidarity”, said German Chancellor Olaf Schelz, who met with Zelensky in France on February 8th.

“Ukrainian can rely on France, its European partners and allies to win the war. Russia cannot and should not win”, Macron said before their work dinner.

Macron's office, through a media report, confirmed that Zelensky will attend Thursday's summit in Brussels, where EU leaders will pledge their support to the Ukrainian people.

Zelensky's European tour and its demands for more advanced weapons came at a time when Ukraine is preparing for a Russian offensive and is developing its plans to regain Russia's occupied territories.

Western support has been the key to Kiev's harsh defence.

Zelensky, a day earlier, during his visit to London, thanked the British people for their support since the first “midway of Moscow's occupation nearly a year ago, while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the fighter planes were “part of the conversation” for aid to Ukraine.

Nothing is off the table”, he said at an evening press conference at a British Army base. “We have to arm Ukraine in the short term, but we have to support Ukraine for a long term”, he said.

Zelensky said Ukraine needs all kinds of supplies, not only aircraft, but also long-range ammunition and rockets.

Zelensky's trip to European capitals on Wednesday is his second trip abroad since Russia's invasion of February 24th 2022.