Why did Lumumba seek Soviet logistical assistance during the Katanga crisis?

Patrice Lumumba sought logistical assistance from the Soviet Union during the Katanga crisis because the United Nations peacekeeping forces, which he had originally requested to help restore order and expel Belgian troops, refused to intervene to suppress the secession of the Katanga province.123

Facing a constitutional impasse and a military that was an uncertain instrument of power, Lumumba requested Soviet planes specifically to transport his troops to Katanga to bring the region back under the control of the central government. This decision was made after his insistence on using force against the secessionists met with categorical opposition from President Joseph Kasavubu. By turning to the Soviet Union, Lumumba’s actions caused the Congo crisis to become deeply entangled in the East-West animosities of the Cold War, alarming Western powers and further destabilizing his position within the government.123