Zelensky will ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is planning a visit to France: he will ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine.

How tells Politico, Zelensky plans to attend the June event in honor of the landing of allied troops in Normandy in France, and then the G7 meeting in Italy. There he will ask his partners to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, provide more assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and seize Russian assets. Politico cites two interlocutors who are familiar with the plans of the head of state and noted:

“The Ukrainian president's schedule could always change. But if all goes according to plan, Zelensky will use this trip to call for more military support from the West and ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles, as the US and UK did when Iran attacked Israel. Zelensky will also call on the US and European countries to seize Russian assets to help finance Ukraine's defense and further reconstruction.”

The publication notes that Zelensky’s plans are especially notable because he recently canceled foreign trips as Russia launched a large-scale offensive in the Kharkiv region:

“Ukraine is also in desperate need of continued support and attention from the global community, and this trip would give him time to engage with world leaders, including President Joe Biden, to advance his country's interests.”

After his visit to France, the Ukrainian president plans to go to Italy for the G7 summit. The publication recalls that for several months, members of the group discussed the feasibility of using hundreds of billions of seized Russian assets to strengthen the defense capability and economy of Ukraine, citing legal difficulties and fears that Moscow could do the same with Western countries.

The US and UK have strongly supported the idea, but some European member states, notably Germany, are more skeptical. The publication notes:

“The issue rocked the recent meeting of G7 finance ministers, at which European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde strongly opposed a complete seizure of Russian assets to provide loans to Ukraine. Zelensky is likely to use the opportunity to meet with heads of state and government to try to convince those who have doubts “.

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