Zelensky enters NATO headquarters

Since the commencement of the conflict with Russia, the Ukrainian president has never before visited the headquarters of the US-led military alliance.

Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has arrived in Brussels for discussions with NATO’s defence ministers to consider extending the West’s assistance to Kiev in its conflict with Moscow.

Since the commencement of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in February 2022, Zelensky has not visited the headquarters in the Belgian city in person; instead, he has only spoken to gatherings of senior officials from the US-led military alliance through video link.

His unexpected trip to Brussels coincides with a huge escalation in hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas, which has supplanted Ukraine in the news since the violence picked up steam on Saturday. Zelensky lamented that “if international attention shifts away from Ukraine, one way or another, it will have consequences” for Kiev in an interview with France 2 on Tuesday.

Zelensky shared a video of him entering the facility with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and being welcomed by hundreds of people who appear to work at the headquarters on social media.

Zelensky implores Western politicians to help the Israeli people, “to go to Israel” and demonstrate to them that they are “not alone,” as they did for the Ukrainians.

“As winter approaches, it’s critical to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence to protect our military, people, and economy,” he stated in reference to the confrontation with Russia.

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During the chilly months, Kiev is preparing to fend off Moscow, but “now we need some support from the [NATO] leaders.” That is the reason I’m here today, the president of Ukraine said.

Later in the day, at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting and at the NATO defence ministers’ summit on Thursday, Zelensky expressed optimism that “NATO member countries will make positive decisions regarding the supply of weapons, military equipment, and necessary assistance to Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to meet with Stoltenberg, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo while in Brussels.

Moscow has consistently warned that supplying Ukraine with weaponry by the US and its allies will only prolong the conflict and raise the possibility of a military confrontation between NATO and Russia. Russian authorities have also stated that Western countries have already joined the battle in a de facto capacity as a result of the transfer of weapons, intelligence-sharing, and training of Ukrainian military.