Zelenskyy on Swedish aid: Wants Gripens as soon as possible

 

Cornelia Mikaelsson/TT

 

Published 22.18

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press briefing in Copenhagen on Tuesday evening. Photo: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/TT

What kind of aid does Volodymyr Zelenskyy want from Sweden? During an informal press briefing in Copenhagen—attended by TT, among others—the Ukrainian President identified air defense and fuel assistance as his priorities.

“We always raise the issue of air defense with Sweden. It is not easy for your country, but it is extremely difficult for us,” says Zelenskyy.

“We need air defense. This includes ammunition for F-16s, which are part of our air defense system. F-16s are already part of our air defense, but we need more aircraft. They are good, they are fast, and we are using them,” he says, responding to a question from a TT reporter at a hotel in central Copenhagen.

Zelenskyy also addresses the Gripen fighter jets that Sweden decided earlier this year to provide to Ukraine—through a combination of donations and sales—with delivery scheduled for early next year.

“We have also discussed the Gripens; they need to arrive in January, or perhaps February. We need them as soon as possible. But they are on the way,” says the Ukrainian President.

Generators for power shortages

Energy supply is equally important, he notes.

“It is also a matter of energy. It’s not about money; when we talk about financing energy, we are talking about the volume of diesel—of fuel.”

“Our generators run on diesel, and they are needed for the centers where people can go if they are without electricity—places where they can get help charging their phones, and so on.” "To get coffee and tea. That is primarily what it’s about," says Zelenskyy.

A unified European voice

Regarding the question of an individual who could serve as Europe’s voice in negotiations with Russia and the United States—something he has called for—he states during the meeting:

"There are many strong leaders in Europe, both within and outside the EU."

He declines to specify exactly who that might be, but emphasizes that he would like to see a name ready by the time the "coalition of the willing" meets in Berlin on November 19—a meeting to which Zelenskyy has been invited.

"Things will be better then, because that person will have a mandate from all of Europe, and that voice will be heard. That is why it is so important to get this sorted out. We need unity in Europe."