Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky says Nato must choose ‘whether we indeed are allies’
- The Ukrainian president is seeking more air defence systems from Western allies after a drone of fatal drone and missile attacks from Russia
- At least 7, including children, were killed in a barrage in Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, though a Russian bomber was also shot down
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Nato must decide if it is Ukraine’s ally and urged the defence alliance’s members to accelerate weapons deliveries to help his struggling forces.
His appeal to Western partners to provide at least seven more air defence systems came hours after Russia launched a wave of fatal drone and missile attacks across the country.
A barrage in Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region left at least seven dead, including children. But – in a first – Ukraine said it had downed one of the long-range Russian bombers that launched the missiles.
“Our sky must become safe again,” the Ukrainian leader told a gathering of Nato defence ministers via video link.
“It depends fully on your choice,” he said, telling the meeting in Brussels that their alliance faced a choice over “whether we indeed are allies”.