(AFP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at a security forum in Singapore on Saturday, seeking to rally support for Kiev as the Russian military offensive gathers momentum.
An AFP journalist saw Zelenskiy enter the lobby of the luxury hotel, which was hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue, a gathering of defence ministers from around the world.
Zelenskiy is due to speak at a security forum on Sunday, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organized the three-day event.
President Zelensky has been visiting European countries in recent days, pleading for more military support for Ukrainian forces that are succumbing to relentless Russian aggression.
The announcement of the Singapore visit followed a US decision to partially lift restrictions on the use of US-supplied weapons in attacks on Russian soil, which Zelenskiy welcomed as a “step forward”.
US President Joe Biden has faced increasing pressure from embattled Ukraine to ease the restrictions, but has resisted, saying doing so could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Moscow, or even nuclear war.
Germany said on Friday it had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.
World War 3 Watch: Germany approves Ukraine’s use of missiles against Russia https://t.co/kIS8bpUO8U
—Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 31, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Tuesday there would be “serious consequences” if Western countries granted recognition to Ukraine.
Ukraine is struggling to contain a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its biggest territorial gains in 18 months.
The war between Russia and Ukraine is in its third year, and the Ukrainian military is exhausted and outgunned.
Many of Kiev’s allies remain uneasy about the possibility of sending Western troops into Ukraine.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron caused a stir among NATO allies when he did not rule out sending troops to Ukraine.
Zelenskiy has been visiting Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium in recent days to seek more weapons and aid for his country’s struggling army and to rally support for a peace summit due to be held in Switzerland this month.
Sweden on Wednesday pledged 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.
The Scandinavian nation, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of military materiel, including ASC 890 reconnaissance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and ammunition, and an entire fleet of PBV 302 armored personnel carriers.
Russia fired 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight, targeting energy facilities across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.
Russia has launched hundreds of air strikes on Ukrainian power installations throughout the war, causing heavy damage and energy shortages as Ukraine’s stretched air defenses struggle to repel waves of drones and missiles.
Ukraine praises Russia for inflicting 500,000 casualties as “truly great achievement” https://t.co/fRkaIfK26Y
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 31, 2024
