Putin defied America and Americans with missile strikes on Lviv - Stefanchuk

This was stated by the head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk in an interview with Fox News TV channel, Espreso.West reports.

"The city of Lviv, which is less than 100 miles from where the President of the United States gave his speech yesterday (March 26 - ed.), at the same time was brutally attacked by Russian missiles. This means that Russian bombs are not so mystically far from the US, as one might imagine. With such cynical actions, the way challenged America and the Americans", Stefanchuk said.

He believes that NATO is capable of providing Ukraine with military equipment that will change the course of the fight against Russian aggression. We are talking, in particular, about tanks, combat aircraft and air defense systems.

"We are not asking NATO to send its troops to defend Ukraine. We are only saying: close the sky, send us weapons, and we will do the rest", the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament emphasized.

Stefanchuk also noted that Ukraine now actually covers the eastern flank of NATO.  In his opinion, if Russia is allowed to succeed in the war with Ukraine, it will begin to attack other European countries.

In addition, the head of VR thanked the US government for its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, practical support during the war, as well as for the unprecedented sanctions that the US and its allies and partners have already imposed against the Russian Federation, significantly damaging its economy. He also expressed gratitude for the equipment that is sent to Ukraine to assist the Ukrainian army in the destruction of the invaders.

Stefanchuk emphasized that all Russian banks should be disconnected from SWIFT, and all loopholes to circumvent sanctions should be closed.

"It is necessary to ensure that all global companies cut off their ties with Russia and leave the Russian markets. The Russian military machine must be deprived of the resources it uses to attack Ukraine", the head of the Ukrainian parliament added.