‘Speed up support for Ukraine’, Zelensky pleads as Ukraine war dominates global security conference in Munich
- The Munich Security Conference is being held ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- A major new Russian offensive appears to be taking shape in eastern Ukraine, with heaving fighting for Bakhmut
Russian forces intensified attacks along front lines in eastern Ukraine on Friday as senior politicians and military leaders from around the world met in Germany with Ukrainian officials at the Munich Security Conference.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the conference by video link, saying it was “obvious” Ukraine would not be the last stop of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, and that it was vital the West does not delay deliveries of weapons to help repel Russian forces.
The Ukrainian leader said that while the West was negotiating supplies of tanks to Kyiv, the Kremlin was thinking of ways to “strangle” the former Soviet republic of Moldova which lies west of Ukraine.
“It’s obvious that Ukraine is not going to be his last stop. He’s going to continue his movement all the way … including all the other states that at some point in time were part of the Soviet bloc,” Zelensky said.
He urged the West to maintain speedy weapons deliveries for new offensives.
“We need to hurry up”, Zelensky told the start of the three-day gathering, “Delay has always been and still is a mistake”.
