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Russia will attack others if Ukraine loses, Zelensky warns

06.10.2023 07:30
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia will rebuild its military power and attack other countries if European countries waver in their support for Kyiv, news agencies have reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives to attend a meeting of European leaders in Granada, Spain, on Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives to attend a meeting of European leaders in Granada, Spain, on Thursday.Photo: EPA/MIGUEL ANGEL MOLINA

The Ukrainian leader was speaking in the Spanish city of Granada where he attended a summit of the European Political Community, a major gathering of European leaders.

Zelensky said he remained confident of continued US and European financial aid despite "political storms" in Washington and elsewhere, the Reuters news agency reported.

In an emotional speech, he described the horrors of war in his country and pleaded for additional military equipment to help Kyiv fight off invading Russian forces.

He said that by providing arms to Ukraine, European countries were helping to ensure that a "drone, tank or any other Russian weapon will not strike anyone else in Europe," Reuters reported.

"We must not allow (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to destabilize any other parts of the world and our partners in order to ruin Europe's power," Zelensky said, as quoted by Reuters.

"The presence of Russia, its military or proxies in the territory of any other country is a threat to all of us," he added. "We must work together to push Russia out of the territory of other countries."

European leaders meeting in Granada, among them Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, assured Zelensky of long-term support, according to reports.

The European Political Community was established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine to promote cooperation among more than 40 countries.

Thursday's gathering attracted leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Friday is day 590 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: Reuters, ukrinform.net, PAP, IAR