Zelensky Meets President Macron and Chancellor Scholz Asks for 'Game Changer' Weapons

JAKARTA - France and Germany have the opportunity to become 'game changers' in the war against Russia, by not hesitating to send heavy weapons and modern fighter jets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Paris, Wednesday.

President Zelensky arrived in Paris, France for dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after holding talks in Britain the previous morning, where he urged Western allies to give Ukraine "wings for freedom" by sending fighter planes, to help turn the tide against Moscow.

"We have very little time. I am talking now about the weapons needed for peace and to stop the war started by Russia," President Zelensky said, citing Reuters, February 9.

"France and Germany have the potential to be game changers and that is how I see our conversation today. The sooner we get heavy long-range weapons and our pilots get modern aircraft... the sooner this Russian aggression will end," he said.

Western countries are known to have stepped up pledges of military aid to Ukraine this year, by providing hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, and long-range weapons. However, it has so far refused to deliver Western-made warplanes.

President Macron said operational issues would be discussed during the dinner, reiterating that Russia cannot be allowed to win the war and Paris like Berlin, will continue to provide military support for as long as Ukraine needs to secure its future.

Previously, President Zelensky received a British commitment to train Ukrainian pilots to fly standard NATO fighters. London said it had not yet decided whether to supply such aircraft, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "nothing could go wrong".