The West needs more courage to help Ukraine's struggle, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday accused the West of lacking the courage to help provide Ukraine with airplanes and tanks to resist the invasion as his country continues to battle against Russian troops.

 After U.S. President Joe Biden met with officials in Poland on Saturday, Zelensky said there is a "back-and-forth over who and how should provide aircraft and other defensive weapons" as Russian strikes kill civilians, the Associated Press reported.

"I have spoken today with the Mariupol defenders. I am in constant contact with them. Their determination, heroism, and steadfastness are extraordinary," Zelenski said in a video message shared on Sunday night. "I wish those who have been thinking for 31 days about how to deliver dozens of planes and tanks had 1% of their courage."

Russian troops have tried to surround Kyiv and force its surrender quickly. However, they have been met with staunch Ukrainian resistance reinforced by weapons from the United States and other Western allies.

However, a proposal to transfer Polish aircraft to Ukraine through the United States was cancelled due to NATO concerns about it becoming involved in a military conflict with Russia.

"So who is in charge of the Euro-Atlantic community? Is it still Moscow, thanks to its scare tactics?" asked Zelensky in his statement. "Our partners must step up their assistance to Ukraine."

The British defense minister reported on Sunday morning Russian movements attempting to surround Ukrainian forces fighting in separatist regions in the eastern part of the country.

Moscow has claimed that its goal is to take from Ukraine the entire eastern Donbas region, which has been partially controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Despite these claims, Russian rockets struck the western city of Lviv on Saturday as Biden was visiting Poland.