At Munich summit, Zelensky asks for more Western weapons despite Russia’s warnings

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the United States and its European allies to expedite the delivery of military weapons and equipment to Ukraine despite Russia’s repeated warnings that the flow of Western arms will only escalate tensions and protract the conflict in the former Soviet republic.

Speaking at the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in the German capital via video link on Friday, Zelensky urged Kiev’s allies to speed up sending weapons to “defeat” Russia over its year-long military operation and warned global leaders that dithering and delays would threaten their security.

Claiming that it was "obvious" that Russian President Vladimir Putin had set his sights on other former Soviet countries, the Ukrainian leader said, "Delay has always been and still is a mistake.”

"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," he said about Putin.

Zelensky also claimed that Russia was wreaking destruction and plotting to "strangle" Ukraine's neighbor Moldova while Western leaders dragged their feet on the key decision.

The 59th Munich Security Conference, an annual meeting of experts, heads of the states, and high-ranking politicians is held from February 17 to 19 in the Bavarian capital as the Russian special operation in Ukraine is approaching its one-year anniversary.

MG