He then flew to Kharkiv,a city near Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia and a traditional centre for weapons manufacturing,to mark a delivery of tanks,armoured personal carriers and armoured vehicles made in the city’s factories.
Standing in front of rows of soldiers,tanks and planes on the city’s main square on Monday evening,Zelenskiy trumpeted the ways in which Ukraine’s military had equipped itself with the help of NATO allies.
Ukrainian servicemen stand during the rehearsal of the parade for the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kramatorsk,Ukraine.Credit:AP
Ukraine,a former Soviet republic that now aspires to join the European Union and NATO,has received Javelin anti-tank missiles from the United States,sophisticated drones from Turkey and signed a deal with Britain to build ships and new naval bases on Ukraine’s southern coast.
Several cities across Ukraine are marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of an independent military after winning independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
“Today,together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,I am here in Kharkiv on Freedom Square,” Zelensky said in an address.
“This is significant because freedom for us is the greatest value,” he said,adding:“it is a symbol of our state,all of Ukraine,which was defended from Russia’s aggression in 2014 by our soldiers and continues to be defended by them today.”
Kyiv,Lviv and the southern port city of Odessa displayed US-made Humvees. In Odessa,there was also a ceremony to hand over two recently delivered US Coast Guard patrol boats intended to bolster Ukraine’s navy.
Two Ukrainian soldiers take a photo after the parade marking the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the centre of Kramatorsk,Ukraine.Credit:AP
Ukraine has urged NATO to accelerate its entry into the military alliance and said Moscow had no right to veto such a move. NATO’s leadership has been supportive but said Ukraine must carry out defence reforms and tackle corruption first.
Biden will warn Putin of severe economic consequences should Russia go ahead with a threatened invasion of Ukraine,a senior US administration official said on Monday.
Biden and Putin are to hold a secure video call on Tuesday as the United States tries to head off Russia from launching military action against Ukraine after Moscow massed tens of thousands of troops on the Ukraine border.
The official,briefing reporters ahead of the call,said the United States has been working with European allies about a strong response should an invasion go forward. He said the United States and Europe would impose severe economic pain.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned a call on Monday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Biden planned to talk to him in the days after the call,the official said.
Reuters