MUNICH (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned allies Saturday that an “artificial shortage” of his country's weapons risks giving Russia breathing room, following remarks by a military commander that and emphasized the need for long-range weapons. withdraw troops Born in the eastern city of Avdiivka.
Zelenskiy was speaking at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of security and foreign policy officials.Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia approximately 2 years of warhampered by low ammunition supplies and manpower shortages.
“The Ukrainians have proven that they can force Russia to leave,” he said. “We can take back the land, but (Russian President Vladimir) Putin may lose. This has already happened many times on the battlefield.”
“Our actions… are limited only by our strength,” he added, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka. Ukraine's military commander, Colonel Oleksandr Shirushkyi, announced early Saturday morning that troops would be withdrawn from the city where an outnumbered Ukrainian garrison had been battling Russian attacks for four months to avoid a siege and save the lives of soldiers.
“Dear friends, unfortunately by keeping Ukraine with an artificial shortage of weapons, especially artillery and long-range capabilities, President Putin has been able to adapt to the current intensity of the war.” said President Zelensky. “Our collective gains will be undermined by the weakening of democracy itself over time.”
The president said withdrawing troops was the “right decision” and stressed that rescuing soldiers was a priority. He suggested Russia had achieved little, adding that it had attacked Avdiivka “with everything we had” since October, losing thousands of soldiers. “That's what Russia has achieved. It's the depletion of their military.”
He pointed to a shortage of long-range weapons, adding: “We are just waiting for the missing weapons.” “That is why today our weapons are our soldiers and our people.”
“We all need more and more artillery ammunition,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in talks with European and other officials late Saturday, stressing the need to ramp up production. He said: It will solve some problems, but it will not replace artillery ammunition. ”
President Zelenskiy visited Berlin and Paris on Friday, where he signed a long-term contract. bilateral security agreement It also signed similar agreements with Germany and France last month, following similar agreements with the UK.
Ukraine's European allies are appealing to the U.S. Congress to approve a package that includes: aid to ukraine — $60 billion would go primarily to U.S. defense agencies to manufacture missiles, munitions and other military equipment for use on Ukrainian battlefields. The package faces resistance from House Republicans.
Question: Is it a good idea to invite a former US president and 2024 presidential candidate? donald trump To Kiev, Zelenskyy replied: “I have invited him publicly, but it depends on his wishes.”
“If he comes, I'm even ready to go to the front with him,” he added.
Vice President of the United States kamala harris “It is in the strategic interest of the United States to continue our support,” he said after meeting Zelenskiy in Munich late Saturday.
“History shows that when you allow invaders like Putin to take land with impunity, they keep going. That emboldens other invaders,” Harris said. he said. He added: “We are steadfast and cannot play political games.”
Standing next to Harris, Mr. Zelenskyy told reporters that the aid package pending in Congress was “critically important.” It would be a step forward for Ukraine and “moving forward is much, much better than stagnating on the battlefield,” he said, stressing that Kiev expects the US to remain a “strategic partner.”
Also at the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said parliamentary delays were reducing the flow of U.S. arms and ammunition, with a direct impact on the front lines.
“Every week we wait means more people will be killed on the front lines in Ukraine,” he said.
Kaja Kalas, Prime Minister of Estonia, which shares a direct border with Russia, pointed to its history in the 1930s.
“If the United States is isolated, it will ultimately cost more,” she said, adding, “If aggression pays off elsewhere, it becomes an invitation to exploit it elsewhere. “This will put global security at risk.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukraine's second-largest supplier of military supplies after the United States, reiterated his call for other European countries to increase deliveries, pointing to U.S. military aid since the war began.
“Similar efforts by any European country should be minimal,” he said.
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Mr. Moulson reported from Berlin.
