Zelensky: Ukraine Is Ready To Take Loan For US Weapons

The President called on the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the law on mobilization as soon as possible.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky gave a 52-minute interview to the TV channel "We Are Ukraine" during his visit to defence facilities in the Chernihiv region. The interview was published on Saturday evening, April 6. Zelensky raised several issues related to Russian aggression against Ukraine. In particular, he declared his readiness to take a loan for US weapons, supported the initiative of Emmanuel Macron on the assistance of the French military in Ukraine and reported the absence of shells for the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, Zelensky called on the Verkhovna Rada to adopt a law on new mobilization in Ukraine as soon as possible.

US Military Aid Loan Package

Zelensky called American military assistance "critically important", and also added that Ukraine is "hostage to the situation." "Unfortunately, the issue of Russia's war against Ukraine has become an internal political issue in the United States, although it is the security of the whole world," he said.

According to Zelensky, if the United States offered Kyiv military assistance "on credit today" or "free in a year," the president would choose the first option: "There is no choice here, the sooner the better."

The President of Ukraine also said that Kyiv lacks 25 Patriot air defence systems "to close Ukraine completely." It is the Patriot that will be able to help protect the energy system of Ukraine in the face of massive attacks by the Russian Federation in recent weeks.

What could be the involvement of the French army?

Zelensky supported Emmanuel Macron's initiative to involve the French army in Ukraine. He said that foreign military can be especially useful in two directions: training the Ukrainian army and repairing disabled Western weapons.

At the same time, Zelensky noted that he was not ready to publicly call on foreign armies to directly participate in hostilities since in this case, Russia would take advantage of this occasion and "will do everything to stop military assistance from other states."

It is necessary to adopt a law on mobilization "in the coming days"

Zelensky also called the four-month discussion of the law on new mobilization in the Verkhovna Rada "irresponsible" and called for its adoption "in the coming days." According to him, the delay of the Rada made the Western allies doubt about further military assistance to Ukraine. “If you don't want mobilization, the parliament doesn't want to vote, why do you need help? Just tell us why we should help," Zelensky said. "Every day I talk to all the leaders of the world online and offline and explain that mobilization in Ukraine is underway," he added.