Zelenskyy Appeals to Ramstein Participants to Provide Ukraine with F-16 Fighters

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged partners to speed up the provision of weapons to Ukraine in a video address to the participants of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which has begun at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

"I could express my gratitude to you hundreds of times, and it would be absolutely fair and honest, given everything we have already done. However, hundreds of thanks are not hundreds of tanks. Each of us might say thousands of words, but I cannot replace these words with either the guns that are required against Russian artillery or the anti-aircraft missiles that are needed to protect people from Russian air strikes," Zelenskyy said.

According to Zelenskyy, time is still Russia's weapon.

"We have to hurry. Time must become our common weapon," the president emphasised.

Zelenskyy concluded his speech at the conference by calling for the next Ramstein meeting to provide longer-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets.

"It is in your power to guarantee artillery and aircraft that will destroy terror. It is in your power to ensure victory," Zelenskyy said.

The Dutch government is potentially ready to discuss providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets if Kyiv makes such a request.