Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, said that Russia would advance on the rest of Europe without Western military assistance.
If you do not have the power to close the skies, then give me planes, Zelensky said at a press conference. "If we are no more, then we may be next, God forbid," he said, adding: "Believe me."
Putting an end to the conflict requires direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, he said.
In response to Putin, he said, "We are not attacking Russia and do not intend to attack it. What do you want from us? Leave our land.".
"Sit down with me, just not 30 metres down the table like with the French president," the Ukrainian leader said, referring to Putin hosting world leaders at the now-famous extremely long table.
Zelensky said: "There was nobody who thought that a man could behave like a beast in the modern world."