Zelensky names ‘three victories’ Ukraine needs on international front

KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Nov 24 said Ukraine needed to secure three key “victories” abroad, including the approval of major aid packages from the United States Congress and the European Union, and a formal start of accession talks to join the EU.

Mr Zelensky also announced the latest dismissals in the military of four deputy commanders in the national guard, but gave no reasons for their removal. The President and other officials have vowed to make the military’s operations more efficient and responsive to the needs of servicemen.

Twenty months into

Russia’s full-scale invasion,

fatigue has crept into the West’s relations with Kyiv, which heavily relies on its allies for military, economic and humanitarian aid to continue battling the Kremlin’s troops.

“We need three victories. The first one is the victory with US Congress. It’s a challenge, it’s not easy, but Ukraine is doing everything,” Mr Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv.

US President Joe Biden asked Congress

to approve many billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine in October,

but Kyiv’s funding was omitted from a stop-gap spending bill passed last week, raising concerns it may not get through.

A vocal bloc of Republicans opposes sending more aid to Ukraine. Opponents have said US taxpayer money should be spent at home, but a majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress still support supplying aid.

Mr Zelensky also zeroed in on a €50 billion (S$73.3 billion) package from the EU that was announced earlier for Ukraine, but has not yet been approved and is so far opposed by Hungary.

“The second is we need the help from the EU on the €50 billion package,” the Ukrainian leader said. “And the third is to open a dialogue about our future membership.”

Kyiv hopes the EU’s members will agree at a summit between Dec 14 and 15 to formally launch the long process of talks for Kyiv to join the bloc, a move which Mr Zelensky said would be good for Ukrainian morale.

Mr Zelensky made the comments at a news conference alongside Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who said he was sure the EU aid package would pass, though he added that it could take longer than expected.

The dismissal of the four deputy commanders was made public by presidential decrees – along with three new appointments. No reasons were given for any of the moves.

Mr Zelensky this week announced the removal of the commander of Ukraine’s medical forces, saying “a new level of medical support” was needed for Ukraine’s servicemen.

A Ukrainian news outlet had suggested earlier in November that her dismissal was imminent, along with others. REUTERS