President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Ukraine needs at least 25 Patriot air defense systems to fully defend its airspace and more F-16 fighter jets than already promised.
ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Ukraine needs at least 25 Patriot air defense systems to fully defend its airspace.
In his first press conference since returning from the United States, the Ukrainian president also called on his Western partners to send more F-16 fighter jets in addition to those already promised.
He claimed that a six-month delay in US military assistance meant kyiv’s forces were “losing control” on the front line.
Meanwhile, Zelensky also observed a minute of silence for those who died in the war between Ukraine and Russia, as he took part in a prayer service marking Ukrainian Statehood Day.
The president spoke on the steps of Saint Sophia Cathedral in kyiv, where he was joined by heads of Ukrainian churches and religious organizations, various parliamentary representatives and foreign diplomats. “Dear Ukrainians, our statehood is your achievement. All those who fight for Ukraine, who work, who unite the world, who study, who spread the truth and who prepare Russia to answer for everything it has done against us. You are our state.”he said.
The national holiday was first established in 2021, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence and the day of the baptism of Kievan Rus’, when Christianity was first introduced to the region.
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