Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued on Thursday a warning that any "pauses" in Ukraine's defence against the Russian invasion would only serve to aid Moscow in re-arming and allow them to "run us over."
Speaking from Estonia, amidst accusations of civilian targeting in missile strikes between Moscow and Kyiv, Zelensky emphasised the urgent need for continuous resistance.
During a news conference with Estonian President Alar Karis in Tallinn, Zelensky stressed, "Give the Russian Federation two to three years, then they will simply run us over. We wouldn't take that risk. There will be no pauses in favour of Russia." He dismissed the prospect of a "long war" with Russia as detrimental to Ukraine's interests.
Karis echoed support for Ukraine, advocating for "no limits on providing Ukraine with arms" and suggesting that Ukraine should be allowed to strike inside Russia using Western weapons. He argued that in a war, it is inevitable to target military objects of the aggressor to impede enemy forces.
In January, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called on Western allies to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine, aiming to target Russian "launch sites and command centres."
Zelensky, reiterating Ukraine's qualifications for NATO membership in Tallinn, emphasised that Ukraine's army would enhance the eastern flank of the alliance, providing NATO with "an army with military experience—not theory but practice." Ukraine expressed frustration over the lack of a specific timeframe for joining NATO.
NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania signed an agreement in Istanbul to demine the Black Sea, ensuring safe waters following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which had involved mining Ukraine's Black Sea coastline.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine, local officials reported two Russian missiles hitting a hotel, causing casualties, including foreign journalists. Zelensky arrived in Tallinn with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, seeking support for air-defence systems. Estonia, a NATO member and a staunch ally, called for continued assistance for Ukraine, emphasising the collective responsibility to ensure Ukraine's victory over the aggressor.
Zelensky is set to travel to Latvia, the third leg of his first foreign trip this year, later on Thursday.
