Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that he had asked US President Donald Trump to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons to be used for military purposes if Russia refuses to cease fire or end the war, Ukrinform reported, citing a statement by Zelensky during his joint press conference in Kiev with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, BTA reports.
Zelensky compared Russia's recent attack on Poland with the situation in Crimea and noted that the role of the "little green men" was played by Russian drones, Ukrinform reported.
"In my opinion, the scariest thing is that this attack resembles Crimea. Psychologically, how is it different? "It's just that now it's a technological war, now you don't need people in green uniforms - "little green men" who simply invaded your territory. Today it's a different war, today the same role on the territory of Poland was played by Russian-made drones," Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces have captured the village of Sosnovka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported, quoted by TASS.
"As a result of active offensive actions, units of the "East" liberated the village of Sosnovka in the Dnipropetrovsk region," the Russian military department said in a statement.
Zelensky recalled at today's press conference that he presented a victory plan to Trump before the Republican leader's re-election for a second term at the head of the White House.
"In my opinion, the victory plan will stop Russia at this moment and prevent it from repeating its aggression. Today, the guarantees of our security are based on the following principles: a strong Ukrainian army, the presence of European colleagues, an American safeguard mechanism, sanctions and recovery," Zelensky listed. "A similar model is also laid down in the plan that I presented," the Ukrainian leader added. He noted that the plan outlines actions that must be taken immediately, without waiting for the end of the war.
The victory plan envisaged membership in the EU. Zelensky said at today's press conference that a specific date should be set for Kiev's accession to the European Union and thus "Putin should understand that this is an irreversible process". "This is important", the Ukrainian president stressed.
He added that Ukraine's accession to NATO is also of great importance. "We all understood that not only America, but also some European countries do not support Ukraine's membership in NATO. But I believe that we should be invited to NATO", Zelensky also said.
Zelensky noted that the victory plan also included imposing more sanctions on Moscow. "It is clear that the sanctions will be lifted if Russia stops this war... If the Russians do not stop this war, we will have to reduce the money they spend on the war," the Ukrainian leader said.
According to Zelensky, sanctions against Russia and Ukraine's accession to the EU are currently reliable security guarantees for his country.
A European Commission spokesman said on Monday it was too early to say when the European Union would propose its 19th package of sanctions against Moscow, Reuters added. EC officials, including Brussels' sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan, met with US government officials this week in an attempt to coordinate the sanctions. The spokesman noted that discussions with the US and other global partners would continue, but declined to provide further details.