President Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s struggle against Russian attacks on key infrastructure, such as the recent airstrike on the Trypilska power plant in Kyiv region. Despite downing seven missiles, Ukraine ran out of missiles and the plant was destroyed. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for military aid, which has faced delays in Congress, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to further assaults.
He compared Ukraine’s situation to Israel’s recent defense against an Iranian attack, pointing out the robust support Israel received from NATO allies. Zelenskyy questioned why similar support hasn’t been extended to Ukraine, stressing the importance of immediate assistance to prevent further casualties and ensure Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
“Israel, by itself, wouldn’t be able to protect against such a numerous, powerful strike. And here, definitely, they used air defence and aviation, many things that, frankly speaking, Ukraine is lacking,” he said.
He added “Israel is not a NATO country. The NATO allies, including NATO countries, have been defending Israel. They showed the Iranian forces that Israel was not alone. And this is a lesson. This is a response to anyone on any continent who says you need to assist Ukraine very carefully so you don’t engage NATO countries in the war,”.
Zelenskyy’s warnings echo the critical need for swift action to approve military aid, highlighting the stark imbalance in military capabilities between Ukraine and Russia. Without adequate support, he fears Ukraine may not be able to withstand ongoing attacks and risks losing the conflict.
“Nobody cares how many people are dying in Ukraine every day. They only care about their approval ratings. That’s what it’s all about. But forgetting that dead people don’t care about ratings”, Zelenskyy said.
“People in Congress need to think twice about pushing these political matters with regards to support in Ukraine and vote to support all of the countries whose lives depend on it.”