Share

'Russian attacks requires greater unity': Zelensky calls for allies to protect Ukraine like Israel

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for aid to fight Russia. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for aid to fight Russia. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP)
  • Ukraine is appealing for aid to fight Russia.
  • President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to show unity.
  • He cited the example of support for Israel in the face of an Iranian attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies on Monday to show the same "unity" toward Ukraine as Israel, which said it repelled an Iranian attack over the weekend with Western support.

Ukraine has in recent months grown increasingly frustrated at delays in Western aid, including air defences it says are urgently needed to repel deadly Russian attacks.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky thanked allies who had responded to Ukraine's call for more air defences but said: "The intensity of Russian attacks requires greater unity."

"By defending Israel, the free world has demonstrated that such unity is not only possible, but also one hundred percent effective," he said.

"The same is possible in defending Ukraine, which, like Israel, is not a NATO member, from terror," he continued, calling for "political will" from Ukraine's allies.

READ | Ukraine slams Pope's 'white flag' call, vows no surrender to Russia

The US Senate passed a $95 billion package in February that included major funding to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, as well as fresh support for Israel and Taiwan.

But the legislation has stalled in the narrowly divided House of Representatives amid opposition from the Republican party's right wing.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade prepares for combat Challenger 2 tank in an undisclosed location near frontline in Zaporizhzhia region amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP)
Ukrainian artillerymen work at a position on the f
Ukrainian artillerymen work at a position on the front line near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. (Genya Savilov/AFP)

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, announced on Monday that a vote would be held in the coming days on the legislation, but not in its current form.

Instead, the House "will vote on each of these measures separately in four different pieces", he said.

He added that votes on the separate bills could occur by Friday evening, but members would be allowed to offer amendments, which could prolong the process.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had also invoked Western support for Israel in a press conference earlier in the day, calling for more aid "as soon as possible".

Kuleba said alongside his Norwegian counterpart:

We see that when allies act as one in a very coordinated way, not a single missile falls on the targets; reaches targets in Israel.

"Everything we are asking from partners, even if you cannot act the way you act in Israel, give us what we need and we will do the rest of the job," he added.

Iran over the weekend launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for a deadly 1 April strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus.

Israel's military said it intercepted 99% of the aerial threats with the help of the US and other allies, and that the overnight attack caused only minor damage.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
68% - 1548 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
32% - 715 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.63
+0.9%
Rand - Pound
23.41
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
19.98
+0.6%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.24
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-0.3%
Platinum
960.50
+3.9%
Palladium
981.50
+2.4%
Gold
2,339.81
+0.1%
Silver
27.29
+0.4%
Brent Crude
89.50
+0.6%
Top 40
70,391
+1.5%
All Share
76,456
+1.4%
Resource 10
64,021
+2.7%
Industrial 25
104,610
+0.7%
Financial 15
16,430
+1.7%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE