KYIV, Ukraine – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Denmark has sent a second set of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. This announcement came as Zelenskyy made his way to Paris for discussions with prominent politicians and dignitaries.
In a Telegram message, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards Denmark and criticized other nations for not showing the same level of commitment. “The initial group of aircraft provided by Denmark is already playing a crucial role in intercepting Russian missiles, thus safeguarding our citizens and vital infrastructure. With this additional reinforcement, our air defense capabilities are further enhanced,” he stated. “If all our allies exhibited such determination, we could have completely thwarted Russian aggression.”
This announcement coincided with a day of mourning in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region for ten individuals who lost their lives in a Russian missile strike on Friday. According to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov, 24 others, including two children, sustained injuries when a missile hit a local gas station.
Additionally, three people were reported dead following an attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih, as confirmed by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service on the same day.
In response to these assaults, Zelenskyy articulated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely pursuing “real peace.” He remarked, “Putin’s only goal is to impose violence on any nation through bombs, missiles, and various means of aggression. Our only defense lies in our strength, and it is through this strength that genuine peace can be achieved.”
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with other world leaders on Saturday, including French President Emmanuel Macron, during an event in Paris aimed at commemorating the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral after it was severely damaged by fire in 2019.
Among those anticipated to attend is U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, as European leaders are eager to win over the incoming leader to ensure continued support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion, which has been in effect for three years. It remains uncertain whether Trump will have a meeting with Zelenskyy.
