Ljubljana: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged NATO parliamentarians meeting in Slovenia on Monday to extend air defense support, maintain military assistance, and reinforce sanctions, saying that continued international support is critical to protecting energy infrastructure amid the ongoing war with Russia.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy addressed the 71st Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which Slovenia hosted. He highlighted Ukraine's resilience against a new wave of Russian attacks in the Sumy and Donetsk regions this summer and credited increased domestic weapon production for the progress on the battlefield.
"More than 40% of the weapons on the front are now made in Ukraine," Zelenskyy stated, underscoring the importance of foreign military supplies. He also called for a faster transfer of pledged funds under the US-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, acknowledging countries that have already contributed and encouraging others to follow suit.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, the Baltic states, Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, and Slovenia for their participation in the program, emphasizing the life-saving impact of timely contributions.
He argued that Russia's battlefield setbacks increase internal pressure on President Vladimir Putin to negotiate and stressed that the international community should not ease sanctions. Zelenskyy urged for the disruption of supply chains providing critical components for Russian missiles and drones.
'No Russian missile or drone would fly without parts from other countries. Our team can provide all the facts, and we are ready to share any information you need,' he stated, calling on parliaments to take decisive action.
Zelenskyy linked recent diplomatic progress in the Middle East to the potential for negotiated outcomes with Russia, suggesting that similar pressure could compel Russia to seek peace. He concluded by asserting that halting Russia's aggression safeguards not only Ukraine but also other nations facing similar threats.