< p>Western allies are taking too long to decide on military support for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters in an exclusive interview in Kiev on Monday.
He described the delivery of military aid, particularly air defense equipment such as Patriot systems, which Ukraine relies heavily on in its war with Russia, as "one big step forward, but before that two steps back" .
"Any decision that we, and then all of us, come to, is delayed by about a year," he said during the interview, raising his voice at times.
His harsh remarks come at a dangerous time for his forces, which are outnumbered and outgunned by Moscow's military and losing territory in the northeast and east of the country.
Apparently frustrated by what he sees as delay and hesitation on the part of Western partners, Zelensky suggested ways allies could help more directly, including by shooting down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory under certain circumstances.
According to Zelensky, the situation on the battlefield in the northeastern part of the country is now under control, after Moscow's forces crossed the border and began incursions into the city of Kharkiv.