Ukraine’s President Rushes To Baltics To Boost Defenses
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine’s president rushed to the Baltics on Wednesday to seek help as his nation faces a barrage of drone and missile attacks that have killed scores of people in recent days.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, where he made clear that his nation must urgently bolster its air defenses; however, with the United States and European Union not transferring billions in aid due to political wrangling, that task is becoming increasingly complicated 22 months after Russia’s invasion began.
However, “We have proven that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible,” he said after talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on his first foreign trip of the year.
The massive Russian barrages — more than 500 drones and missiles were fired between December 29 and January 2, according to officials in Kyiv — are using up Ukraine’s weapons stockpiles, however.
The escalation is stretching Ukraine’s air defense resources and leaving the country vulnerable unless it can secure further weapons supplies, Ukrainian officials and experts say.
Ukrainian officials traveling with Zelenskyy signed several documents on cooperation on joint arms production. Similar agreements are expected in the other Baltic countries Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit this week.
The focus of his two-day trip to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will be security concerns and Ukraine’s hopes to join the European Union and NATO.
Hungary, an EU and NATO member state, has expressed reservations about Ukraine joining these alliances, however. Zelenskyy also seeks to build partnerships in drone production and electronic warfare capacities.
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