Zelensky visited Brussels

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 10 Feb 2023 by Alex Teddy

---

On February 9 he addressed the European Parliament. He was cheered to the rafters and wore his trademark green military fatigues. He pleaded with them to speed up deliveries of long-range weapons. Zelensky warned the EU that Russia is intensifying its offensive and within weeks will start an all out offensive. Russia is thought to want to win before the new weapons arrive from the West. Zelensky said that Russia is ''the most anti-European force in the world'' and that by defending itself, Ukraine is also defending the EU. He beseeched the EU to admit Ukraine. The European Council was meeting in Brussels at the time. Zelensky met the prime ministers of all EU countries. He repeated his plea for jets. The President of the European Council said that the EU must be plain that it will donate more military aid. Slovakia is considering donating MiG 29 fighters. Ukraine already has these so the pilots do not need to be trained on them. The Dutch PM sounded a note of caution on donating jets. Would that be too provocative? The President of France is considering donating jets but not imminently. He noted that France has given Caesar guns and medium-range surface-to-air defense systems. Poland said it will donate jets if others do so. Putin's spokesman said that the distinction between direct and indirect involvement is disappearing. He denounced the donations of arms as escalatory. The EU has donated USD 72 billion in arms and in financial aid. Over 4 million Ukrainian refugees are in EU countries. The EU said it will tighten sanctions on Russian propagandists and reduce Russian exports by a further EUR 10 billion. Russia was hoping that the EU would tire of supporting Ukraine....