WAR IN UKRAINE: February 9, 2023
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 351
In a surprise visit to the United Kingdom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wowed parliament with a show-stopping speech that included a passionate plea for fighter jets. He also name-stopped the disgraced former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his early and robust support for Ukraine’s battle with Russia. Zelensky held separate meetings with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles, before heading off to visit Ukrainian troops training in Dorset.
As expected, Zelensky repeated his plea for fighter jets. “Combat aircraft for Ukraine - wings for freedom.” It was another powerful and humble speech by Zelensky to a packed hall at Westminster. However the UK is unlikely to give up fighter jets as it simply doesn’t have any to spare. Downing Street/MoD more likely to offer pilot combat simulator training, which requires weeks or months. Ukrainian pilots can be trained on US/NATO jets on UK simulators.
President Zelensky has now arrived in Paris, where he is meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. On Thursday he will meet EU leaders and is expected to continue his push for further military assistance as well as Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU.
France 24: Macron says Ukraine ‘can count on France to win this war.’ French President Emmanuel Macron on Feb. 8 pledged that France would firmly stand by Ukraine as he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
WSJ: China helps Russia's war in Ukraine, trade data shows. China is allegedly providing Russia’s army with military means despite sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Speaking during his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States is united in its support for Ukraine as it opposes the "murderous assault" of Russia's invasion and that Washington will stand with Ukraine "as long as it takes” - RFE/RL
International investigators looking into the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 say they are ending their probe despite finding "strong indications" of the involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials. The Dutch-led investigation said there were no new leads to follow but did not rule out a re-start should new evidence or eyewitnesses surface. They related previous statements that the Russians had produced falsified evidence into the downing, which claimed 298 innocent souls.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was "now clear" Vladimir Putin was involved in the MH17 tragedy. This fitted the pattern of a man and country "only concerned with trying to slow things down, spread falsehoods, injustice and of course a terrible form of aggression since the war in Ukraine", he said. Mr Rutte added he was bitterly disappointed there was not enough evidence to warrant further prosecutions, but insisted that did not mean the criminal justice process was over - BBC
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made a surprise visit to Kyiv, where he announced that Ukraine is to receive more than 100 battle tanks of the older Leopard 1 type from several European countries.