The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, declares that he is doing everything to ensure that Ukrainian pilots have new powerful planes as soon as possible. “The first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals to the world that Russia will lose due to its own aggression, will become weaker and more isolated,” he says. Zelenskyy is sending a message to the people of Iran, who, according to him, are “plunging deeper and deeper into the dark side of history,” and Iranian Shahed drones deployed in Russia terrorize Ukraine every night.

Volodymyr ZelenskyiPhoto: Presidency of Ukraine/President of Ukraine / Zuma Press / Profimedia

In a message sent on Wednesday evening, Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that a meeting of the General Staff took place, the first after visits and important decisions related to the country’s defense, News.ro reports.

“First of all, this concerns the aviation coalition – a coalition of modern fighter jets for Ukraine. We are doing everything to shorten the time to achieve this result, until new powerful planes with Ukrainian pilots fly into the skies of Ukraine. It is clear that this global step will allow us to expand our defense capabilities. Because only with powerful aviation can the air defense system be complete. On the other hand, the first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals to the world that Russia will lose due to its own aggression, will become weaker and more isolated. This will be a signal that Russian terror has lost and our world, which is based on respect for independent nations and the right of peoples to choose their own path, has survived,” the President of Ukraine emphasized.

He noted that the bases will be prepared to ensure the fastest and most efficient transition of aviation.

“Our fighters have already proven that they can handle modern weapons with an efficiency that was not expected from us. I am sure that they will be just as successful with aviation,” Zelenskyy added.

He showed that he was informed about the situation at the front, about Ukrainian countermeasures and about the opportunities that Russia will use.

“We know how to respond. This is especially true of missile threats and the constant terror of kamikaze drones. Now Russia is increasingly resorting to so-called combined strikes – with different types of missiles, different types of drones,” said the President of Ukraine.

He noted that his country’s military has so far shot down almost 900 Iranian Shahed drones out of 1,160 used against Ukraine.

“We are constantly looking for tools to bring the drop rate of Iranian drones to 100%. But today, when these attacks are happening, I would like to appeal directly to the people of Iran. To everyone – society, ulema (Muslim scholars – no) Iranians, every Iranian family, those people who can influence government decisions in Iran. A simple question: why do you want to be complicit in Russian terror? Why are you on the side of the evil state? The world sees what is happening and all of you in Iran do. It is impossible to deny the support of evil. Although we have learned to shoot down most of your kamikaze drones that you give to Russia, there are also hits. When an Iranian drone kills a young pregnant Ukrainian woman and her husband at home, why is that to you, mothers and fathers in Iran? When your Shahed drones hit a student dormitory, people die, a fire breaks out, rescuers arrive, and within minutes the Shahed drone strikes, taking the lives of those who were saving the lives of others… Why does Iran commit such cynical crimes? Done by the hands of Russia, but with your weapons. What do you, the residents of Tehran, Shiraz, Saqqez or any other city in your country, get from this?” Zelenskyy said.

According to him, it is only about greater isolation from the world and even greater problems.

“For Russia, absolutely everything is a target. Houses, schools, hospitals, houses of prayer, churches, power plants, markets, even humanitarian aid distribution points and bus stations… There are thousands of examples. People of Iran! Russia strikes everywhere, indiscriminately. With artillery and mortars, missiles and drones – with what Russia has and what it receives from you. I’m sure you should be on the other side of history – not the other side of evil,” he continued.

Zelensky said that Russia started this war because of slavery.

“This is a war of a colonizer against a neighboring nation. Russia is really stealing people – our children! Thousands and thousands… Only pure evil can steal the children of another nation. And, moving against the Ukrainians, the Russian occupiers are destroying all other national communities that have lived on the territory of Ukraine for centuries. This is confirmed by the burning of Greek Christian villages by the Russians and Russia’s systematic repression against the Crimean Tatars, our Ukrainian Muslim community. The people of Iran could live a completely different life if you were not on the side of such evil as Russian aggression. Your Shahed drones, which terrorize Ukraine every night, only mean that the people of Iran are being pushed deeper and deeper into the dark side of history,” Zelensky concluded.

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