Zelensky and Stoltenberg stress the importance of accelerating the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine

After meeting with the Ukrainian president in Kiev, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of the consequences of delaying Western military aid to Ukraine, at a time when the Russian army is making progress on the battlefield. While Zelensky stressed the importance of this aid to "achieve victory."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed, during a meeting between them (Monday) in Kiev, the need to deliver more military aid to Ukraine to confront Russian advances in the battle.

The NATO Secretary General acknowledged that “significant delays in support have serious consequences on the battlefield,” referring to the significant delay in the delivery of American and European military equipment.

He added, however, that "it is not too late for Ukraine to prevail," stressing that there is "more aid on its way" to arrive, and that new aid is expected to be announced "soon."

Stoltenberg called on the allies to make “a major financial commitment for several years to prove that our support for Ukraine is not short-term,” adding that Russia “must understand that it cannot win.”

For his part, Zelensky urged the West to accelerate arms supplies in order to "thwart" the new major attack that Moscow is preparing for, according to Kiev.

Zelensky, along with Stoltenberg, insisted that “together we must thwart the Russian attack,” noting that Russia was “trying to take advantage” of the delay in Western aid.

He said: “Artillery, 155 mm shells, long-range weapons, and anti-aircraft defense systems, especially Patriot systems... This is what our partners have, and this is what must be present now here in Ukraine to destroy the ambitions of Russia’s terrorists,” as he put it.

Advance in the East

Ukrainian cities and infrastructure are subjected to almost daily Russian strikes with missiles and drones.

In recent days, Moscow announced its control over several villages in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian army said on Monday that it had taken control of Semenivka, northwest of Avdiivka.

On Monday, Kiev announced a Russian missile attack on Odessa, a vital port for Ukrainian exports on the Black Sea, resulting in at least 4 deaths and 32 injuries.

Regional Governor Oleg Kiper said, via Telegram, that the strike was launched with a ballistic missile carrying a cluster munition, according to preliminary information, noting that the attack targeted one of the “most popular” areas in Odessa.

“Timely delivery of weapons to our soldiers and timely solutions in the field of air defense are what we need to save lives,” Zelensky said in his evening speech.