West was 'overly optimistic' about Ukraine in 2023: NATO commander
3 Min Read
The chief of the NATO Military Committee tells the Financial Times that the West wrongly supposed providing training and ammunition to Ukraine would help Kiev win the war.
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talking to journalists during the final national press conference of the high-level NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2023 (AFP)
Ukraine's Western allies were “overly optimistic" about the war in 2023 and assumed that providing Kiev with the required ammunition and training would lead to victory, chief of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer told the Financial Times on Sunday.
His comments came after Russian forces took control of the strategic city of Avdiivka with Ukrainian soldiers withdrawing following weeks-long heavy combat.
Last year, Kiev botched a much-hyped spring counteroffensive, suffering significant losses in manpower, military hardware, and munitions.
The West believed that “if we give the Ukrainians the ammunition and training they need, they’ll win," he told the newspaper.
However, Bauer said that “we have to be careful not to be overly pessimistic in 2024."
Read more: US finances wars for 'world hegemony' as weary Americans suffer: Sachs
Financial aid at Congressional stalemate
As of January 15, 2024, the United States has provided Ukraine with $45.4 billion in military aid from February 2022 to December 2023, averaging approximately two billion euros per month. Meanwhile, the European Union pledged 49.7 billion euros in military assistance since the beginning of the conflict but has only delivered or allocated 35.2 billion euros.
Months-long bipartisan disputes have prevented the passing of a bill to provide Kiev with an additional $60 billion financial package. A Congress vote a few days ago failed to reach an agreement, with another vote expected on February 28 following the government's winter recess.
Read more: 'Not 1 more cent': Americans are done with funding Ukraine's paychecks
Unless the new aid passes the US Republican-controlled House, Kiev will likely lose the war, Politico said in a Sunday report.
Officials “sounded far from certain about what a victory might look like for Ukraine,” even if the new US assistance was passed. For now, the West’s plan is to “keep the Ukrainian military from collapsing,” the outlet added.
Read more: France warns of ‘economic shock’ from Russian victory in Ukraine
'National security'
President Joe Biden told reporters on Saturday that he assured his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that he is confident Congress will approve the $60 billion package.
The phone call came hours after Avdiivka fell into the hands of Russian forces.
“I spoke with Zelenskyy this afternoon to let him know that I was confident we’re going to get that money."
Biden stressed that Ukraine would not lose more territory to Russia if the US failed to deliver further assistance, blasting legislators for being “absurd” and “unethical” if they don't greenlight the package.
“I find it contrary to everything we are as a country,” he said.
Read more: US pre-positioned arms for Ukraine dysfunctional, poorly maintained
The White House said in a statement after the conversation between the two leaders that Ukrainian troops withdrew after being forced to “ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months."
President Biden "emphasized the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces,” according to the White House's statement on the call.
