Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Romania for the Patriot system that the Parliament in Bucharest approved to be transferred to Ukraine. “This is something that will really support our people, our country, our entire region,” Zelenskiy said.
Announcing that he had a meeting with the chiefs of staff with whom he discussed the use of air defense systems and the protection of Ukrainian cities and communities, Zelenskiy said:
“We rely on the Patriot (system), which Romania is preparing to transfer . I am grateful for this step of assistance from Romania. This is something that will really support our people, our country, our entire region”, said Zelenskiy in his video speech that he addresses to his compatriots every evening.
He added that together with the Ukrainian commanders he identified measures to make the systems that Ukraine already has more effective. “We are also working to obtain additional protection for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, adding: “Of course, we continue to work with all partners for stronger solutions to support our defense – for long-range solutions that could destroy a significant part of Russian ballistic missiles before they are launched”.
Ukraine has long been pleading with Western allies, especially the United States, to provide it with long-range weapons and especially to agree to their use in attacks targeting targets on Russian territory, motivating that in this way the places from where the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian territory and population are initiated would be targeted.
“This is one of the key issues of this war in general. The issue of our long-range capability and the relevant permissions from our partners, the long-range projectiles and missiles that we could use. Russian attacks will be impossible if we are able to destroy the occupier’s launchers where they exist, as well as airfields and Russian military logistics,” explained Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
He qualified the eventual granting of such permits and weapons to Ukraine as “the biggest step towards a real and fair end to this war.”
“Russia simply does not know how to fight without terror – terrorist attacks and the ability to sow destruction replace both the tactics and the strategy of war for the Russian leadership,” the Ukrainian president pointed out on the day in Poltava, the city from the center of Ukraine, the Russian attack with the worst balance this year: more than 50 dead and more than 270 injured.
Seven people, including three children, were also killed in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, according to the mayor, during a new wave of Russian attacks that took place overnight, according to the BBC. At least 35 people were injured in the city amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Lviv Oblast Governor Maksim Kozitkîi and Mayor Andrii Sadovîi reported, according to The Kyiv Independent.