Ukraine war: Zelensky pitches fighter jets to EU leaders

(BBC) ⸻ Ukraine's leader has called on EU leaders to provide fighter jets and arms for the war against Russia, on his second trip abroad since the war began. He was given a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Brussels, where he linked Ukraine to a European way of life and urged the bloc's leaders to throw its weight behind a swift course to accession. The Kremlin warned on Thursday that the line between direct and indirect Western involvement in the conflict was disappearing. The UK said no decision on providing jets in the long term had yet been made but it would provide training for Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft it already had. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called on EU states to consider Kyiv's request for jets quickly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz to discuss the potential to provide heavy, long-range weapons and modern planes to Ukraine. Macron has previously signalled openness to providing fighter jets, but Scholz has not. Mr Zelensky argues that fighter jets and long-range missiles are important in addition to the Leopard 2 tanks that Western nations have recently committed to supplying. However, the Dutch prime minister warned there is "very little time" to provide much-needed weaponry. Moscow has warned the West against weapons deliveries to Ukraine, citing the growing involvement of the UK, France and Germany in the conflict. Chancellor Scholz has agreed to allow German Leopard tanks, but has warned against getting involved in a "public bidding war". UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is investigating what aircraft could be offered, but training pilots could take years.