Zelensky attacks allies: “Humiliating aid on artillery, EU can provide more”

Brussels – The European Union does little. During his intervention at the European Council meeting held in Brussels, Ukraine’s president Volodymir Zelensky thanked the EU heads of state and government for the support provided so far, considered however as hypocritical. And even more: “Humiliating.” That’s because it  the EU support does not help all the way, and indeed, the “crumbs” the EU provides for Kyiv’s military response to the Russian aggressors help the Kremlin. Zelensky’s speech in front of the 27 was a call to responsibility. Delays in ammunition delivery really bother the Ukrainian leader.

“Ammunitions is a vital issue” in responding to the Russian advance, Zelensky recalled. “Unfortunately, the use of artillery on the front lines by our soldiers is humiliating for Europe in the sense that Europe can provide more. And it is crucial to demonstrate this now.” The Ukrainian president did not hide his discontent with a Europe seen  very close in words but too little in practice. The EU had promised one million artillery pieces by the end of 2023, to then admit to being unable to fulfil its commitments and hopefully deliver a little more than half of what was promised by the end of March this year. Ukraine is right as rain, and Zelensky opened shows his irritation, warning the twenty-seven countries: “This is Russia’s war not only against Ukraine, but against all of us, against your countries as well, against our entire Europe and the European way of life”.

​The Ukrainian president called for a new momentum, a change of pace, greater determination, and real engagement. He didnt’t criticize what done so far by the EU side, however valuable; he is aware that the EU has chosen the best path to avoid direct involvement in the conflict that would mean a world war. He criticized the amount of support as insufficient for Kyiv to win the conflict. He reiterated it strongly talking about anti-aircraft systems.

“The existing air defence systems are not enough to protect our entire territory from Russian terror,” Zelensky warned. What follows is but the direct consequence of an unprepared and weak Ukraine: the EU must provide the means, equipment and weapons needed to stop the war in the air that Russia conducts along with the war on the ground. “You all know what steps need to be taken,” Zelensky punctuated in an implicit but clear plea for help, which is also the claim of honouring EU commitments even in this area. “We need to provide reliable protection to the skies above the front line,” which Ukraine alone cannot provide. “We need to make Putin lose the battle for the Ukrainian sky” because, he assured, “if he does, he will lose the land as well“.

The Ukrainian leader is aware that Europe has not invested in the war industry because it was in peacetime, and therefore, today, it is struggling to revive a sector that has become strategic and necessary. He thus called for an acceleration. “Please do not waste the time necessary to activate defence production.” A call to the twenty-seven countries not to postpone decisions needed to finance the ‘made in EU’ production without relying on third parties. “I hope we can all agree that our Europe needs real self-sufficiency in defence,” Zelensky wished. “This can only be achieved by increasing the production of arms and ammunition on the continent.” Precisely one of the points on the table at the summit, where leaders are divided. 

Italy, Spain, Lithuania, and Estonia welcomed the idea of creating Eurobonds for defence, a hypothesis on which Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden on the contrary are holding back. A way of presenting themselves before their Ukrainian partner that does not help to dispel doubts about the effectiveness of European allies and their “humiliating” support.