UKRAINE: Zelenskyy Calls For Sped Up Military Support

Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov says of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for the West to speed up its provision of military support, that "He [Zelenskyy] has made a lot of statements in recent days...This is due to the extremely unfavourable position of Ukraine's forces." Claims that "There is a growing realisation in Kyiv that Western military aid will not change the dynamic at the front."

• On the issue of the provision of fighter jets and air defence systems to Ukraine, Zelenskyy stated on 20 May that "Unfortunately, the free world lacks speed on these two issues," He said that the situation facing his country was "one of the most difficult" of the war so far, but went on to claim the situation in Kharkiv oblast was "under control". 
• Zelesnkyy's address, delivered on the fifth anniversary of his inauguration when his term in office would usually officially expire, comes as G7 finance ministers prepare to meet with the topic of continued financial support for Ukraine on the agenda. The meeting in Stresa, Italy takes place 24-25 May, with the FT reporting that "Washington’s G7 allies are warming to a US plan to rush tens of billions of dollars in funding to Ukraine before Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. Under the plan, set to be discussed at a June summit, Kyiv would receive money upfront from a G7 loan. The loan would be backed by future profits generated from about $350bn of Russian assets that have been immobilised..."