DAVOS (dpa-AFX) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has warned of a further delay in Western aid for his country, which is being attacked by Russia. “There will be a major crisis for all of Europe,” the head of state told journalists on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Ukraine will continue to fight – but without aid, Russia could be in a position to conquer Ukraine. “And once they conquer us, believe me, it will be a war between NATO and Russia,” Zelensky said. The Russian President Wladimir Putin I have such an attack on the military alliance in mind.
A direct consequence of the lack of Western support will be a weakening on the battlefield, said Zelensky: “We will have a huge shortage of artillery.” Air defense will also become weaker due to a lack of missiles. In the event of a Ukrainian defeat, Europe would not only be threatened with new flows of refugees. Zelensky warned that grain and electricity deliveries would also be interrupted.
Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion with Western support for almost two years. According to calculations by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, total aid for Ukraine already amounts to over 240 billion euros. However, the granting of new billions in aid from the most important supporter, the USA, is currently stuck due to a domestic political dispute. The EU has also not been able to approve a planned Ukraine aid program worth 50 billion euros over the next four years due to a Hungarian veto.
Zelenskyj drew a positive conclusion about his trip to Davos. He said in his evening video speech that he had “many good and useful meetings” there. Ukrainian officials also sought international cooperation in the armaments sector at the forum./ast/DP/he