Talking head
Munich Security Conference: Zelenskyy urges speedier support
"The annual Munich Security Conference (MSC) began on Friday against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is top of the agenda at this year's high-level meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the conference via video link and urged allies to provide speedier support.
Over the course of the next few days, representatives from 96 countries are set to discuss key issues of defense at the conference.
'No alternative to Ukrainian victory' — Zelenskyy
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the opening address by videolink and urged allies to speed up support for his country, warning that lives were hanging in the balance.
"We need to hurry up. We need speed — speed of our agreements, speed of our delivery... speed of decisions to limit Russian potential. There is no alternative to speed because it is the speed that the life depends on," Zelenskyy told those gathered, stressing there was "no alternative to a Ukrainian victory."
Zelenskyy likened the battle against Russia's invasion to the biblical fight between David and Goliath and said that while Ukraine had David's courage, it still needed the sling with which to defeat "the Russian Goliath."
IMF: Ukraine has fulfilled conditions for next support package
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been in talks with Ukraine about providing further support.
"Right now, we are completing a four month program of engagement with Ukrainian authorities to help them reach an economy under extraordinary circumstances of war," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told DW.
She said she is "very pleased to say that Ukraine has shown strong performance under this broad monitored program that paves the way for the fund to put in place a fully fledged program for Ukraine."
✓ Georgieva added that this was "important because the financial needs of Ukraine are significant. We estimate that somewhere between 40 and $48 billion (€37.4-44.9 billion) would be needed for this from outside for the country to function. And it is good for the fund to be there for Ukraine." . .
Likening Russia to Goliath, Zelensky says Ukraine needs David’s Sling from Israel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said his country needs the David’s Sling air defense system from Israel to defeat the Russian “Goliath.”
At the end of his video address to the annual Munich Security Conference, Zelensky issued a fresh request for military assistance from Jerusalem, which has thus far held off on doing so, citing a need to maintain its ties with Russia, which controls the skies over Syria that Israel uses to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence on its northern border.
In his latest plea to Israel, Zelensky resorted to metaphor, comparing Ukraine to David, the underdog from the Biblical tale who manages to defeat Goliath with a sling. The name was given to the Israeli-developed system capable of intercepting rockets and missiles at a range of 40-300 kilometers. . .
“We have no alternative but to defeat the Russian Goliath. Being David is fighting and we are fighting. Being David is having a sling to win,” he said in English remarks.
“We do not have yet the David’s Sling from Israel, but I believe it is just temporary.”
The David’s Sling missile defense system seen at the Hatzor Air Base, Israel. Sunday, April 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Zelensky met Thursday with visiting Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Kyiv, with the latter stressing that Israel “supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
The Ukrainian leader thanked Israel for the humanitarian aid over the past year, which has topped NIS 80 million ($22.5 million). He also asked Cohen to increase the number of wounded soldiers being treated in Israel, and to allow another 15,000 Ukrainians into Israel with work permits.
Requests for military weapons were not included in the public readouts.
Cohen announced new measures of support, including a $200 million loan guarantee for healthcare and civilian infrastructure along with a pledge to develop a “smart early warning system.”
The airstrike warning system would be similar to the technology Israel uses to warn civilians of rocket attacks. The system is expected to reach Ukraine within 3-6 months.
Cohen said that Israel would offer a list of tangible measures, including reconstruction and water projects, within 3-4 months.
Foreign Minister meets with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 16, 2023. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)
Cohen’s earlier meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was reported to not have been received as positively with Kyiv, which was irked at the top Israeli diplomat’s refusal to condemn Russia by name while visiting Bucha where Russian forces massacred hundreds.
“As I promised, Israel will increase assistance to Ukraine and help it with reconstruction efforts. I am confident that my visit will strengthen ties between the countries,” Cohen tweeted Friday as Zelensky spoke.
Save for the Israel-focused remark at the end, Zelensky’s plea for additional military support was directed to all Western countries.
Ukrainian emergency services employees push the remains of an S-300 missile fired by Russian forces onto a truck in Kharkiv, Ukraine on February 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Warning that delays would play into Russia’s hand as the invasion approaches its first anniversary, Zelensky said, “There is no alternative to speed because it’s speed that life depends on.”
Ukraine is depending on Western weapons to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition of securing control of large areas of the country, in what has become a test of foreign governments’ resolve amid increasing financial costs.
About 40 heads of state and government, as well as politicians and security experts from almost 100 countries, including the United States, Europe and China, were due to attend the three-day Munich Security Conference.
“The Kremlin can break the security and peace of all who are represented here in Munich,” Zelensky warned.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky waves after addressing the audience via video as Berlinale Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian (R) applauds during the Opening Gala of the Berlinale, Europe’s first major film festival of the year, in Berlin on February 16, 2023. (Ronny Hartmann/AFP)
For the first time in two decades, conference organizers did not invite Russian officials to Munich. Western countries have sought to isolate Russia diplomatically over the invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022.
US Vice President Kamala Harris was set to join the leaders of France, Germany and the UK at the Munich conference.
At the same conference last year, held just days before Putin sent troops into Ukraine, Harris shared US warnings that Russia was about to attack its neighbor and said, “Not since the end of the Cold War has this forum convened under such dire circumstances.”
In a speech scheduled for Saturday, the US vice president will lay out what’s at stake in the war and why it matters, to bolster the case for maintaining US support for Ukraine for as long as it takes, the White House said.
Kyiv, after receiving Western pledges of tanks and more ammunition, is now hoping for fighter jets, but some countries have balked at sending them.
Frans Timmermans, the executive vice president of the European Union’s executive commission, said the 27-nation EU so far has maintained unity on the issue.
“I think everyone can see how important it is for Ukraine to win this war,” Timmermans said. “This is important for our Europe, too, because Putin isn’t just attacking Ukraine, he is also attacking us in the sense that he doesn’t support our values.”
He said it was important to make clear that Europe will support Ukraine however long the war lasts. “Putin is in difficulty,” Timmermans said, adding that the Russian leader would seek to put severe military pressure on Ukraine in the coming weeks and months.
Timmermans also expressed hope that China could exert pressure on. . "
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Western leaders meeting Friday at the Munich Security Conference answered a call by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for immediate additional aid to counter the Russian invasion of his country.
About 40 heads of state and government, as well as politicians and security experts from almost 100 countries, including the United States, European nations and China, are attending the three-day annual gathering of the international security community, designed to provide a platform to discuss the world’s conflicts.
For the first time in two decades, Russian leaders were not invited to the conference. Last year, Russian officials declined to attend the event, which ended four days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Zelenskyy addressed the conference remotely, urging his Western allies to “hurry up” and deliver promised military aid. Drawing a comparison between his nation’s war with Russia and the biblical story of David and Goliath, Zelenskyy said, “Goliath must lose!”
A short time later, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz seemed to respond to that call, urging any allies who can deliver its advanced Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine to do so immediately, and promising to provide logistical support for those who do.
Scholz’s position represents a significant swing from last month, when his government mulled for several days whether to provide the advanced tanks to Ukraine out of fear of escalating the situation.
In remarks to the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those sentiments, urging allies to "intensify our support" for Ukraine. While he insisted that he did not want to see a drawn-out war, Macron said France was ready for a "prolonged conflict.”
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators are among those representing the United States at the conference. Harris is scheduled to address the conference Saturday.
Along with Ukraine, rising tensions between the U.S. and China also are expected to be on the agenda in Munich, after the U.S. military shot down an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon over U.S. territory last week. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is attending the conference.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Scholz calls on allies to send tanks to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the conference that Putin's "revisionism" would not prevail and called on allies who were in a position to do so, to send battle tanks to Ukraine.
German chancellor: 'Putin's revisionism will not prevail'
No comments:
Post a Comment