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Zelensky in Italy after demanding “more weapons” from his allies in Germany
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Italy on Friday after launching a vibrant appeal to obtain more weapons from his allies gathered in Germany at a time when Moscow is advancing on the eastern front. The Ukrainian leader vigorously pleaded his country’s cause at the European House – Ambrosetti economic forum in Cernobbio (north), a sort of mini-Davos where he will meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Also present was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has remained close to the Kremlin despite the war in Ukraine, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union and who said he hoped to meet the Ukrainian leader. During their last face-to-face meeting in Kiev at the beginning of July, Mr. Orban had called on Mr. Zelensky to consider a “ceasefire quickly”, illustrating their differences but also those existing between Budapest and most Europeans. The Hungarian reiterated his calls for a ceasefire on Friday, immediately rejected by Mr. Zelensky. “A lot of people are talking about ceasefires right now,” but Russian President Vladimir Putin has never kept his past commitments to silence the guns. Each time, “they started killing us again on the contact line,” he said. Coming for the first time to the meeting of international supporters of kyiv, in western Germany, Volodymyr Zelensky on the contrary demanded from his allies “more weapons” to repel Russian forces, “in particular in the Donetsk region”, in the east. He then met Chancellor Olaf Scholz not far from there, in Frankfurt, for a meeting focused in particular on “the common search for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine” according to the chancellery. – Long-range missiles Two and a half years after the launch of the Russian invasion, Ukraine is struggling: its offensive started at the beginning of August on Russian territory, in the Kursk region, has not helped to stop Moscow’s advance in the east. Moscow is increasing its deadly bombings, such as recently on a military institute in Poltava, in the center of Ukraine, which left at least 55 dead. At the US air base in Ramstein, Mr Zelensky reiterated his demand to be able to use long-range weapons supplied by his partners “not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on Russian territory” to destroy the bases from which Moscow launches its missiles. In Italy, he hammered home that under no circumstances would these weapons be used to strike civilians or non-military targets, even if “they are our enemies, because they support Putin’s policy”. Several major countries, including his two main arms suppliers, the United States and Germany, nevertheless continue to balk for fear of an escalation with Moscow, which regularly raises the nuclear threat. “I don’t think that a single specific capability will be decisive,” US Secretary of State for Defense Lloyd Austin said after the meeting, saying that Ukraine should rely on the combination of different weapons. His German counterpart Boris Pistorius said that Berlin’s position on this matter was unchanged. – New aid militaryLloyd Austin announced $250 million in new military aid that will “enhance capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving needs.” Moscow continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine, particularly around Pokrovsk. And the Kremlin continues to bomb Ukrainian cities and target Ukrainian civilians. “It’s a scandal,” Mr Austin said. London also announced a £162m (€192m) contract for 650 lightweight multi-role short-range missiles, which can be fired from a variety of land, sea and air platforms. Mr Pistorius also announced the delivery of 12 Type 2000 howitzers, six this year and the rest in 2025, for a total of €150m. Berlin confirmed on Wednesday further deliveries of Iris-T air defence systems, which are intended to help intercept Russian missiles. Since the start of the war, defence ministers from the Contact Group have met regularly in Ramstein to discuss support for Kiev with military representatives. While they regularly reaffirm their unwavering solidarity, many governments are facing divided public opinion as the war drags on. Kiev is all the more worried as the time for big packages aid from the United States, where a return to power by Donald Trump is not excluded, seems to be over.bur-ilp/bh/smk/gab/lpt
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