Ukraine, Zelensky | Zelensky: Russia triumphs over the West's hesitation

On Wednesday, the president began a tour of the Baltic states.

The President of Ukraine arrived in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on Wednesday morning. From here he travels to Estonia and Latvia.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are our trusted friends and principled partners. “I arrived in Vilnius today, before going to Tallinn and Riga,” Zelensky wrote in a message on X/Twitter.

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The Lithuanian Presidential Office announced Zelensky's visit when Zelensky arrived in the country on Wednesday morning. The trip was not publicly known in advance.

The President's Office wrote that the discussions will revolve around the war in Ukraine, support for Ukraine, and Ukraine's integration into the European Union and NATO.

In favor of Russia

At a press conference on Wednesday, Zelensky's message was well known: The country needs more support with weapons.

– He said that the uncertainty of partners regarding economic and military support for Ukraine increases Russia's self-confidence and strength.

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Air defense is at the top of the list of weapons that Ukraine needs.

-We must understand that Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Moldova could be next if we do not stand up to Russia.

sincere

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are all members of NATO and share borders with Russia. These countries have distinguished themselves as among Ukraine's strongest supporters.

An agreement was recently concluded between Germany and Lithuania to permanently deploy about 4,800 German soldiers in a place not far from the border with Russia. Publication is scheduled for 2027.

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The debate over support for Ukraine has raged in the US Senate and in the European Union.

At the EU summit in December, Orban sparked unrest and bad mood when, as the sole head of government, he vetoed a €50 billion aid package to Ukraine over four years through EU budgets.

But reports indicate that he may now be sliding towards a settlement POLITICO.

Hungary is said to have sent signals that it may be willing to lift its veto on the aid package being approved for one year at a time, rather than four as in the original proposal.

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But other EU countries are opposed to this.

On February 1, an extraordinary EU summit will be held on this issue.

Goal: common solution

With Belgium assuming the EU presidency on January 1, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is responsible, along with EU President Charles Michel, for reaching a solution.

On Wednesday, De Croo was given the green light by member states to start negotiations with the EU Parliament on the aid package, laying the groundwork before EU heads of state and government make a final decision at the summit.

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Without new money, Ukraine risks running out of money in a short time.

The alternative plan, which involves European Union countries providing contributions to Ukraine individually, has been on the table for some time. But this is a much more complex solution and no less expensive than if the European Union provided joint support.

In a meeting with reporters in Brussels on Tuesday, De Croo said the goal remains to find a solution supported by all 27 member states, Swedish news agency TT reported.

Germany warns

Meanwhile, German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz is putting intense pressure on his European colleagues to secure more money and more weapons for Ukraine. He warns that without more support, Russia will win.

– I ask our allies in the European Union to intensify their support for Ukraine. Schulz says that the arms shipments planned by most EU countries so far are very small.

Germany itself plans to send weapons and materials worth about 90 billion Norwegian kroner to Ukraine. Schulz points out that this is not enough at all.

Germany has now put forward a proposal that all EU countries should explain their plans for Ukraine at the summit scheduled for February 1 at the latest.

On Wednesday, a meeting was held at the ambassadorial level in the NATO-Ukraine Council. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks POLITICO He expressed hope that the meeting would lead to promises of new weapons such as the Patriot missile defense, IRIS-T and Norway's NASAMS system.