In a speech earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Russia's imperialist criminal forces won't be Russian thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin's last attempted conquest, as he attempts to reconstruct the footprint of the old Soviet Union. Zelenskiy spoke via video to the Munich Security Conference and pointed to recent intelligence that Moldova, which borders Ukraine to the south, was the target of Russian subversion:
"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," Zelenskiy said.
He urged the West to maintain speedy weapons deliveries.
"Delay has always been and still is a mistake," Zelenskiy said.
He made his opening remarks in English as he addressed the security conference, an annual gathering of leading politicians, military officers and diplomats, days before Ukraine marks the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022."
Zelenskiy stressed repeatedly that time is of the absolute essence in getting weapons to repel Russia's current offensive. There's evidence that the West is awakened to that reality, as plans are accelerated to meet Ukraine's urgent need for ammunition and munitions to replenish its diminished stock. It's reported that U.S. munitions companies in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Iowa are gearing up for increased demands for artillery shells, air defense systems and anti-tank Javelin missiles. European munitions companies are similarly beginning to increase their supplies of such basic items as 155mm artillery shells and rocket artillery systems. Politico reports that there is increasing pressure being brought to bear to provide the Ukrainian Air Force with F-16 fighters, including a bipartisan letter from the House, something that the Biden Administration has resisted due to the extensive training and maintenance costs involved. Ukraine and others have countered that Ukraine's air force is well trained already and could pickup the knowledge required to operate F-16s in a few months or less.
Putin has visions of personal grandeur, ruling atop a new Russkiy Mir, "Russian World," and only a decisive victory by Ukraine (and his toppling) will derail that.
(photo: Maxim Shipenkov / AP)
