Zelensky: 'Kiev will receive and test a new air defence system from Paris'
It will be tested against Russian ballistic missiles as an alternative to the US Patriot system
Ukraine will receive a new Samp/T air defence system from France this year and will test it against Russian ballistic missiles as an alternative to the US Patriot system. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We will receive a system this year that we will test against ballistic threats," Zelensky told a group of journalists in embargoed statements until today.
The Ukrainian president added that this was "the most important topic" of his talks with Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday.
Ukraine does not want to lose US support in its war against Russia because of the crisis in the Middle East, Zelensky said. "We do not want to lose the Americans" when "they are, without a doubt, currently more focused on the Middle East," Zelensky said yesterday. "We are demonstrating our willingness to help the US and its allies in the Middle East" by offering them Ukrainian expertise on drones and "we very much hope that, because of the Middle East, the US will not turn away from the issue of the war in Ukraine," he continued.
Zelensky, on reopening Druzhba pipeline we are at risk of blackmail
Regarding the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline, which until the end of January transported Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was against allowing Russian oil to transit through Ukraine while the EU imposes sanctions on its sale elsewhere. "Why, on the one hand, can we tell the US that we oppose the lifting of sanctions, while on the other hand we force Ukraine to resume oil transit through Druzhba - and at a political price that actually finances anti-European policies?" said Zelensky. The US has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments. Zelensky added that if conditions imposed on Ukraine because of the dispute threatened arms supplies, Kiev would have no choice but to resume oil transit, but added that he told EU partners that this would amount to 'blackmail'.
Orban: 'On 12 April Hungary chooses between Zelensky and me'
In the elections on 12 April 'we must choose who will form the government, me or Zelensky. I offer myself with due modesty'. This was said by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, during an election rally at the peace march in Kossuth Square, Budapest, re-launching the duel with rival Peter Magyar ahead of the vote. "In Brussels they want to replace us because we will not hand them the keys to the safe," he said, referring to European support for Ukraine. "Brussels does not want to stay out of trouble, but is heading into it," he added. "It's time for Brussels to understand: our children will not die for Ukraine."
