Ukraine is trying to convince its Western backers to shoot down Russian missiles and drones fired on Ukraine
Zelenskyy complains West won’t even talk about shooting down Russian missiles “They just change the subject” on that issue, said Ukrainian president.
Ukraine said there was a double standard earlier this year when Kyiv saw a wide coalition of Western countries helping Israel to repel a massive Iranian attack of missiles and drones.
Military operation in Ukraine 3 Oct, 10:08 Kiev allies not ready to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, Zelensky admits
The Ukrainian president complained that Western countries are ready to provide assistance in protecting the airspace of Israel, but not Ukraine
MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Kiev allies are not ready to shoot down Russian missiles and drones over the Ukrainian territory, the country's President Vladimir Zelensky admitted after meeting with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Ukrainian capital.
"As for whether the [NATO] allies are ready to shoot down [Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory], we are working with everyone. They are not ready yet," Zelensky said at a press conference that was broadcast on the alliance's website. Zelensky complained that Western countries are ready to provide assistance in protecting the airspace of Israel, but not Ukraine. "Of course, we would like Ukraine not to be forgotten (amid the escalation in the Middle East - TASS)," he said, once again calling for Kiev to be provided with "appropriate weapons" and for a decision to be made on strikes deep into the Russian Federation. Earlier, Poland came up with the idea of protecting Ukrainian airspace with the help of air defense systems on the territory of NATO countries, but the alliance's leadership stressed that such decisions can only be made following consultations with all allies. Tags Vladimir ZelenskyMilitary operation in Ukraine New NATO Chief Rutte Says Wants Ukraine To 'Prevail' In Kyiv Trip
NATO's chief Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday that his goal as head of the Western military alliance was to ensure that "Ukraine prevails."
In a major show of support for Kyiv, Rutte went to the Ukrainian capital for his maiden trip as secretary general of the alliance.
But in a joint media appearance, Zelensky blasted Western delays over supplying long-range weapons he says are critical to fighting off the Russian invasion, and called on NATO members to shoot down Russian missiles and drones fired on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia confirmed it had captured the eastern town of Vugledar, underscoring the difficulties Ukrainian troops face across the sprawling 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line. Kyiv relies on billions of dollars in Western military aid to fight the Russian invasion, with the NATO leader a powerful voice corralling support for Ukraine on the global stage.
Rutte said he chose Kyiv as his first trip "to make crystal clear to you, to the people of Ukraine and to everyone watching, that NATO stands with Ukraine."
BLOGGER NOTE: The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet, created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky calls for jointly intercepting Russian missiles during NATO chief Rutte's visit to Kyiv
Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 3 for a surprise visit. Rutte's visit came days after he took the helm as the alliance's new secretary general.
As a Dutch prime minister, he remained one of the staunchest of Kyiv's allies, taking the lead with initiatives like providing F-16 planes to Ukraine.
The NATO secretary general said on Oct. 1 that Ukraine would remain one of his top priorities amid Russia's ongoing war.
Speaking at a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Rutte reiterated that Ukraine's path towards NATO is "irreversible."
"Now we are focused on getting Ukraine invited to join the alliance. This is a very important step. It is difficult to achieve. We are focused on this result. We will do everything to get it,"Zelensky said.
Following their meeting in Kyiv, Zelensky said that he and the new NATO secretary general discussed the implementations of "the decisions of the Alliance's Washington summit."
The Ukrainian president also talked to Rutte about the possibility of jointly intercepting Russian drones and missiles.
"Jointly intercepting Iranian missiles is no different from jointly intercepting Russian missiles, and especially 'Shaheds,' which link the Russian and Iranian regimes,"Zelensky said in the wake of fresh Iranian missile attacks against Israel.
The Western partners have thus far refused to help Ukraine in shooting down drones and missiles over its territory, fearing this could be seen as a direct involvement in the war.
The president also said that "Ukraine needs to strengthen its positions on the front line so that we can increase pressure on Russia for the sake of fair, real diplomacy." This is why the country needs a "sufficient quantity and quality of weapons, including long-range weapons, the provision of which, in my opinion, is being delayed by our partners," he added
"Our key goal is Ukraine's full NATO membership. Ukraine can become the 33rd member of NATO. Ukrainians deserve this,"Zelensky noted.
Earlier, Zelensky, who has repeatedly called on partners to issue a membership invitation to Kyiv, said Ukraine will join NATOonly after Russia's full-scale war ends.
The invitation to join NATO is part of Ukraine's victory plan that was presented to U.S. President Joe Biden in late September.
The July NATO summit in Washington ended with the launch of the Ukraine Compact, a security framework signed by 32 allies.
The countries affirmed Kyiv's "irreversible" path toward membership, though Ukraine did not receive any definitive news about its future accession.
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"As for whether the [NATO] allies are ready to shoot down [Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory], we are working with everyone. They are not ready yet," Zelensky said at a press conference that was broadcast on the alliance's website.
But in a joint media appearance, Zelensky blasted Western delays over supplying long-range weapons he says are critical to fighting off the Russian invasion, and called on NATO members to shoot down Russian missiles and drones fired on Ukraine.Meanwhile, Russia confirmed it had captured the eastern town of Vugledar, underscoring the difficulties Ukrainian troops face across the sprawling 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line..gif)
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