France and Germany have the opportunity to be "game changers" in the war against Russia by not hesitating in delivering heavy weapons and modern fighter jets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said during a visit to Paris on Wednesday.
Zelenskiy arrived in the French capital for a dinner with leader Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after holding talks in Britain earlier in the day where he urged his Western allies to give Ukraine "wings for freedom" by sending warplanes to help turn the tide against Moscow.
He travels to Brussels on Thursday where he will attend a European leaders summit.
"We have very little time. I'm talking now about the weapons needed for peace and to stop the war started by Russia," Zelenskiy said.
"France and Germany have the potential to be game changers and that's how I see our talks today. The sooner we get heavy long range weapons and our pilots get modern planes... the quicker this Russian aggression will end."
Western countries have scaled up their pledges of military aid for Ukraine this year with promises of hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles as well as longer-range weapons, but have so far refused to deliver Western-made combat planes.
Macron said operational matters would be discussed during the dinner, reiterated that Russia could not be allowed to win the war and that Paris like Berlin would continue to support as long as necessary the military support Ukraine needed to secure its future.
Ahead of Thursday's meeting in Belgium, Scholz sought to stress Kyiv's position in Europe.
"I am taking a clear message to Brussels: Ukraine belongs to the European family," Scholz said.


US peace envoys meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv after Putin talks
US targets three Iranian oil vessels after attack on Navy ships
Israeli strikes kill seven in southern Lebanon
Indonesia's Anak Krakatau eruption halts flights, schools, fishing
Putin says US-Russia contacts beneficial as talks begin with Witkoff and Kushner
Chinese national rescued from Nepal tunnel 10 days after flash flood
US envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Moscow for talks on peace in Ukraine
One dead, 11 people missing after mudslide in China's Jiangxi province
