Star Metro - Zelensky urges fresh support in trip to Baltic states

Zelensky wrapped up his tour of the Baltic states in Latvia, after earlier visiting Lithuania and Estonia, in a bid to counter war fatigue as the bloody conflict nears its second anniversary.

Throughout the trip, the Ukrainian leader pleaded for more air defence systems amid an escalation of deadly Russian strikes.

Zelensky said Ukraine was "grateful" for the already-delivered Patriot air defence systems, without which it would be "impossible to survive" during some massive attacks, but asked for more deliveries.

"How can you live and sleep peacefully, if you have dozens of such systems," he asked during a press conference in Latvia's capital Riga.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics announced a new aid package, saying Riga will deliver "artillery shells, anti-aircraft weapons, grenades, drones" to Kyiv this year.

- 'Run us over' -

Zelensky's trip comes as support from other Western backers is wavering, with decisions on fresh aid packages to Kyiv stalled in the US and the European Union.

He asked for military as well as political support to deter Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion almost two years ago.

"We would like to see a real step from NATO countries to bring Ukraine closer," he asked in Riga, adding the allies "must not show fear."

Ukraine has acknowledged it would be tricky to join NATO before the war is over, but asked for a clear timeframe to join the security alliance.

Earlier in Estonia's capital Tallinn, Zelensky argued his country would bring "an army with military experience" to the bloc.

Estonia, one of Ukraine's main allies and a NATO member, has called for continued support for Kyiv.

In Tallinn, Zelensky warned that any "pauses" in Ukraine's defence against the Russian invasion would only help Moscow to re-arm.

"Give the Russian Federation two to three years, then they will simply run us over," he said at a news conference with Estonian President Alar Karis.

Karis in turn called for "no limits on providing Ukraine with arms."

- 'Better armed than tyranny' -

Zelensky also met with Estonian premier Kaja Kallas.

"Freedom should be better armed than tyranny," Kallas told reporters.

She reiterated her government's pledge to spend 0.25 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on military aid to Ukraine over the next four years.

"We hope that this will be an example to everyone else," Kallas added.

NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania meanwhile on Thursday signed an agreement in Istanbul on demining the Black Sea to ensure safe waters once the war is over.

The Russian navy mined Ukraine's Black Sea coastline in the early stages of its invasion nearly two years ago.

On Wednesday, Zelensky was in Lithuania, which according to the German-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy is the biggest donor to Ukraine in terms of GDP.

There he appealed for badly needed air-defence systems and warned that Western hesitation on aid was emboldening Russia.

Ukraine has come under intense Russian shelling in recent weeks, and Ukraine has warned it needs more weapons to defend itself. A missile attack on a hotel in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv wounded 13 people including two foreign journalists late Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said.

In retaliation, Ukraine has shelled Russia's border city of Belgorod, leaving over two dozen dead.

Y.X. Gagnon--SMC