Zelensky: "If the West gives us enough air defence, millions of refugees will return home"

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the retreat of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka was necessary to save their lives.

"We can return our land. And Putin can lose. And this has happened many times on the battlefield. Our actions are limited only by the number and range of our forces. That is, by what does not depend on us. And the situation in Avdiivka is a confirmation of this," the President of Ukraine said.

According to him, "keeping Ukraine in an artificial shortage of weapons, in particular, in the shortage of artillery and long-range weapons, allows Putin to adapt to the intensity of hostilities."

He reiterated the importance of Western air defence systems for Ukraine.

"Some have claimed that there is no effective defence against Russian missiles. But we know for sure that Patriot and other Western air defence systems can shoot down any Russian missiles," Zelenskyy said. According to him, "if there are enough air defence systems in Ukraine, we will be able to bring home millions of Ukrainians, millions of our people, refugees."

In his speech, Zelenskyy also spoke about Putin.

"Just yesterday, he tried to send us all a clear message when the Munich Security Conference opened – Putin killed another opposition leader," Zelensky said.

According to the President of Ukraine, "after the murder of Alexei Navalny, it is simply absurd to perceive Putin as the allegedly legitimate head of the Russian state."

Background. As reported, Zelenskyy spoke at the Munich Annual Security Conference. In particular, the president answered questions about Avdiivka, mobilisation and the advancement of the Armed Forces.