Zelensky urges for faster arms supplies

BRUSSELS — Hailed as a European hero on his arrival in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union's leaders to accelerate the promised delivery of modern longrange weapons.

The Ukrainian leader said during an EU summit on Thursday that he could not return empty-handed from what was only his second foreign trip since the conflict with Russia started just under a year ago.

After Wednesday's visits to London and Paris to lobby the United Kingdom, France and Germany for modern fighter jets and long-range missiles, Zelensky flew on to Brussels to address EU leaders and the European Parliament.

He told MEPs that Ukraine needs artillery, munitions, modern tanks, long-range missiles and fighter jets faster than Russia can prepare, in what he said would be a new offensive.

European Council President and summit host Charles Michel insisted that the summit had allowed EU leaders to "make it clear that they are ready to provide more military support".

But some EU leaders were warier, fearing it could drag the West closer to direct conflict with Russia.

"There are many sensitive issues to be discussed, the pros and cons," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that even if fighter jets were to be sent to Kyiv, it would not be in "the coming weeks".

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his country "will not be the first to hand over fighters", but would welcome others leading the way.

The Kremlin reacted with a grim warning.

"We see this as a growing engagement of Germany, the UK, France in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The boundary between indirect and direct engagement is gradually disappearing. We can only regret it," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He added that could "lead to an escalation of tensions" and would not change Russia's military objectives.

NATO and the EU along with the United States have been the main backers of Ukraine during the conflict. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a new round of sanctions to punish Russian "propagandists" and cut another 10 billion euros ($10.7 billion) worth of Moscow's exports.

Agencies via Xinhua