"What's the problem?": Zelenskyy sharply addressed the West

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply addressed NATO and blamed Western countries of prolonged hesitancy regarding assistance to Ukraine in combating Russian aggression.

The head of state made these statements in an interview with The New York Times.

According to him, the Alliance can shoot down Russian missiles flying over Ukraine without invloving aircraft crossing Ukrainian airspace. Zelenskyy emphasizes that this is purely defensive tactics and therefore does not create the risk of direct combat with Russian troops.

“So my question is, what’s the problem? Why can’t we shoot them down? Is it defense? Yes. Is it an attack on Russia? No. Are you shooting down Russian planes and killing Russian pilots? No. So what’s the issue with involving NATO countries in the war? There is no such issue. Shoot down what’s in the sky over Ukraine. Give us the weapons to use against Russian forces on the borders,” - Zelenskyy said.

The President urged providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with more modern F-16 fighters and Patriot air defense systems. Zelenskyy believes that a decision on such assistance could be made in July when NATO leaders gather for a summit in Washington.

“Can we get seven?... Do you think it is too much for the NATO anniversary summit in Washington? For a country that is fighting for freedom and democracy around the world today?”, Zelenskyy said indignantly.

The Ukrainian leader believes that the West’s primary reason for hesitating — fear of nuclear escalation. But it is overblown, because Russian president Vladimir Putin of Russia would refrain from using nuclear weapons out of a sense of self-preservation. “He may be irrational, but he loves his own life,” Zelenskyy says.

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