Western countries agreed to supply tanks to Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion, prompting the Ukrainian government to push the envelope even further, with discussions about more major military equipment progressing.
There is talk of NATO nations supplying long-range missiles, warships, submarines, and fighter jets, with Ukrainian government figures tasked with acquiring new equipment seemingly wasting no time in pushing new ideas immediately after the dam on tank supply burst.
After the US and Germany dropped their previous objections to sending offensive armour to Ukraine this week, the shift from tank talk to fighter jets was almost instantaneous.
Nonetheless, the conversation has moved forward thanks to Ukrainian politicians and diplomats attempting to persuade Western powers to send more equipment.
Discussions to get long-range missiles to Ukraine are apparently well underway, with reports describing the talks as “fast-track”.
Advisor to Ukrainian President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, who has been a cheerleader for western warplanes is involved in the missile talks and said he was trying to explain to allies that getting the advanced weaponry would “reduce fatalities… reduce security threats to the European continent, this will keep the war localised”.
Moreover, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the prospect of peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, calling him a “nobody.”
In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, Zelensky declared that Putin “doesn’t want negotiations because he doesn’t want peace.”
The Ukrainian president stated that he was “convinced” that Ukraine was “just the first step” for Putin, who has his sights set on “other countries” in his quest for Eastern European dominance.
With all the support he’s receiving from the West, Zelensky said, “After [the] full-scale invasion, Putin for me is nobody, nobody,” he added.