Speaking at a joint news conference with Macron, Olaf Scholz of Germany and Mario Draghi of Italy, Vladimir Zelensky said: “Every day of delaying or postponing decisions is an opportunity for the Russian military to kill Ukrainians or destroy our cities.”
“There is a direct connection: the more powerful weapons we get, the faster we can liberate our people, our land.
Mr Macron announced that he would send six additional artillery systems to Kyiv and promised that Europe would stand by Ukraine until its victory. Germany has promised to send missile systems with multiple launches.
Mr Scholz dismissed allegations that he had withheld much-needed military support, saying Germany was one of Ukraine’s biggest military and financial backers. He said German support would continue “as long as necessary for Ukraine’s struggle”.
Putin views talks “as a weakness”
Prior to the visit, Alexei Arestovich, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said the three leaders “will say we must end the war, which is causing food and economic problems.”
“When the West talks to Putin, he sees it as a weakness. He presses. He killed people in Bucha and the West says we need to save his face, “he said.
In May, Zelensky said he had rejected Macron’s offer that Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia in peace talks.
Paris and Berlin agree that Russia must withdraw its troops to the territory it held before the February invasion if peace talks are to begin. Mr Draghi said any peaceful conditions should be acceptable to Kyiv.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Mr Zelensky recently suggested that Ukraine could regain Crimea, which could put it on the verge of clashing with the three leaders.
“We must win this war and regain our occupied territories. This will be our common victory, “Zelensky said in a telephone conversation with Joe Biden on Wednesday night.
Mr Macron, Mr Scholz and Mr Draghi traveled by night train to Ukraine with Klaus Johannes, the leader of Romania. Macron said the visit was a message of “European unity”.
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