Eurasia Press & News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has returned to Ukraine from a European tour with more pledges for military backing from allies in Rome, Berlin, Paris, and London.
Zelenskiy said on May 15 in a video recorded on the train as he traveled back to Kyiv that he was returning with new defense packages, including “more ammunition, stronger weapons for the front, more protection for our people, more political support.”
His press service said on his last stop in London, Zelenskiy and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed a fighter jet coalition, which Zelenskiy said was a very important because Ukraine currently cannot control the sky in its defense against invading Russian forces.
Ukraine has previously raised the idea of a fighter jet coalition and pressed the United States to join.
Zelenskiy said after his visits with European leader he felt “extremely positive” about the chances of forming the coalition and said there would be “important decisions” in the near future.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Britain and Poland had agreed to join the coalition, which would train Ukrainian pilots on modern Western aircraft.
“Britain — yes. Poland — yes. And I am sure France and other partners will join,” he said in the video.
French President Emmanuel Macron said later in an interview that France is open to training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots in France and that those training programs could start right away.
