ＥＵ議長国、ウクライナを「明確に支持」　ゼレンスキー氏は支援遅れに不満も

【キーウＡＦＰ＝時事】２０２３年後半の欧州連合（ＥＵ）議長国スペインのペドロ・サンチェス首相は１日、ウクライナの首都キーウでウォロディミル・ゼレンスキー大統領との共同記者会見に臨み、欧州連合（ＥＵ）として同国に対する「明確な支持」を改めて表明した。一方のゼレンスキー氏は、一部の支援国は同国の戦闘機操縦士に対する訓練提供に二の足意を踏んでいると不満を示した。（写真はウクライナの首都キーウで共同記者会見に臨むウォロディミル・ゼレンスキー大統領〈右〉とのスペインのペドロ・サンチェス首相）
　ウクライナは現在、ロシアに対する反転攻勢を強めている。しかし、ゼレンスキー氏やウクライナ軍のワレリー・ザルジニー総司令官は、西側支援国からの武器供与が滞っており、また戦闘機操縦士の訓練の提供についても明確に打ち出されていないと訴えている。
　これに対しサンチェス氏は、ＥＵ議長国としての責務が始まった初日にウクライナを訪れたことに触れ、将来のＥＵ加盟を目指しているウクライナに対する「明確かつ絶対的な政治的支持」を示す意図があったと述べた。
　さらに、「今後数か月間、ＥＵは将来に向けての重要な課題を進展させるつもりだが、中心議題には引き続きウクライナがある」と強調した。
　今月にはリトアニアの首都ビリニュスで北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）首脳会議が開かれる。ゼレンスキー氏は同会議で、ロシアとの戦争が終結後、ウクライナのＮＡＴＯ加盟が実現するよう「明確かつ理解可能なシグナル」が提示されるよう望むと述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/07/03-17:06）

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged the EU's unequivocal support for Ukraine in Kyiv on Saturday as Spain assumed presidency of the bloc, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hit out at foot-dragging over pilot training by some Western nations.
Sixteen months into Russia's invasion, Ukraine says it is fighting fierce battles as part of its counteroffensive launched last month after weeks of anticipation.
But both Zelensky and his commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny registered their frustration over the slow deliveries of weapons and lack of clarity over pilot training.
Sanchez visited Kyiv on the first day of Spain's EU presidency, saying this demonstrates a clear and unequivocal political commitment to Ukraine's bid to join the 27-nation bloc.
His trip came ahead of a key NATO summit in Vilnius later this month that is expected to map out the future relationship between Ukraine and the Western military alliance.
In the next few months, we will make progress on issues that are essential for the future of the European Union, yet Ukraine is going to be at the centre of all our debates, Sanchez told reporters during a joint news conference.
He said the European Commission had recently issued an interim assessment on the status of Ukraine's candidacy to join the bloc. The report is positive and shows significant progress, Sanchez added.
Kyiv also said this week that the time had come for NATO to clarify its stance on Ukraine's membership.
At the joint news conference with Sanchez, Zelensky said that during the Vilnius summit he wanted his country to receive an invitation to join NATO after the war.
We need a very clear and understandable signal at the Vilnius summit that Ukraine can become an equal member of NATO after the war, Zelensky said.
This invitation to the alliance is the first, very practical step, it would be very important for us.
Sanchez and Zelensky released a joint declaration stating that Ukraine's EU candidacy will be a priority for Spain's presidency of the bloc.
The declaration also said that Spain supports strengthening NATO's partnership with Ukraine, including through the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council.
Ukraine received EU candidacy status a year ago and is hoping to begin formal negotiations this year on what it needs to do to firm up its membership bid.
Zelensky thanked Sanchez for his support, but he also sounded testy when a journalist asked him about Western plans to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
I have the same questions you just asked. The same questions to our esteemed partners, he said.
Do they have an understanding of when Ukraine can get the F-16? he said. There is no schedule of training missions. I believe that some partners are dragging their feet. Why are they doing it? I don't know.
Ukrainian forces have claimed limited gains in a highly touted counteroffensive to win back territory that Russia captured after launching its full-scale offensive in February last year.
- 'Pisses me off' -
Ukraine's military commander-in-chief Zaluzhny also expressed frustration, saying in an interview published Friday that his country's counteroffensive plans have been limited by the lack of adequate firepower, from modern fighter jets to artillery ammunition.
Zaluzhny told The Washington Post he was frustrated by the slow deliveries of promised weaponry from the West.
It pisses me off that some in the West complain about the slow start and progress to the long-awaited push against Russian occupying forces in the country's south, he said.
Zaluzhny said his Western supporters would not themselves launch an offensive without air superiority, but Ukraine is still awaiting F-16 fighters promised by its allies.
I do not need 120 planes. I'm not going to threaten the whole world. A very limited number would be enough, he told the newspaper.
He also complained he has a fraction of the artillery shells that Russia is firing.
- 'A little slow' -
Zaluzhny said he was in constant contact with Western partners, such as Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley, who are keenly aware of his needs.
But Milley alone cannot make the decision, and the delays are deadly, Zaluzhny said.
It's just that while that decision is being made, in the obvious situation, a lot of people die every day -- a lot. Just because no decision has been made yet.
Speaking later Friday in Washington, Milley said the United States and allies were working hard to supply Ukraine.
We are giving them as much help as humanly possible, he said.
Milley said the United States was still in talks on providing Ukraine with F-16s and ATACMS, precision missiles that could more than double the range Ukraine's forces are able to target.
He acknowledged that some people had expressed impatience with the pace of the counteroffensive.
Sure, it goes a little slow but that is part of the nature of war, he said.