Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday ordered Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko to draw up a plan to help the hapless governments of California and Los Angeles states suppress deadly wildfires.
President Zelenskiy: “The situation on the ground is extremely difficult, but Ukrainians can save American lives.'' said with video address.
“This issue is currently being resolved and we have offered assistance to the American side through appropriate channels. We have already prepared 150 firefighters.”
“Ukraine’s offer of assistance to California in the midst of these devastating wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary. President Zelenskiy’s leadership and the preparedness of 150 Ukrainian firefighters are a global It is a testament to the power of partnership,” said the California National Guard. answered on sunday.
Ukraine has extensive experience with wildfires; especially The area around Chernobyl is one place where no one wants to see an out-of-control fire throwing tons of ash and smoke into the sky.
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In the Chernobyl region, recurring problem Farmers use old-fashioned burning to clear grass from fields for planting, but the fires tend to spin out of control when the winds pick up.
Any help would definitely be welcome in California, but the 150 firefighters from Ukraine would be a small addition to the already 10,000-strong workforce. involved Participated in fire prevention efforts including 72 firefighters Sent About 1,000 prison inmates, including detainees from Mexico, were deployed on Saturday.
Some social media reactions to Mr. Zelensky's offer of assistance included mockers who said his proposal to send 150 personnel was a pittance compared to the vast sums of money the United States has poured into defending Ukraine over the past three years. There was something to do.
Last week, President-elect Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. offensively reposted a 2022 news article stating that the Cal Fire Department had donated a significant amount of equipment to Ukraine.
California is donated At the beginning of the Russian invasion, firefighting and safety equipment was provided to Ukraine. Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) announced In March 2022, it announced it would donate “surplus” equipment, including hoses, nozzles, and personal protective equipment, to first responders in Ukraine.
California officials and some fire experts say controversial Donating the equipment to Ukraine has led to accusations that Los Angeles is unprepared to deal with this year's fires, arguing that a lack of staffing is far more of a problem than a lack of equipment. The most serious problems are woefully incompetent land management policies and an appalling failure to fill vital reservoirs.
