Zelensky warns against defeat in war as weapon stockpiles are depleted
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blames the world's defense industry for "lack of enough resources."
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (AP)
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the world's defense industry and military resources as insufficient for Ukraine to endure the war against Russia.
In a news conference at the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, Zelensky gave the example of 155 caliber artillery, saying production was insufficient as Ukraine heavily relies on artillery. In December, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk told BBC that Ukrainian production of kamikaze drones had accelerated amid severe deficiencies in artillery shells.
US assistance for Ukraine has dried up with Republicans refusing to approve Biden's request for $60 billion for Kiev until the Democrats agree to their demands for measures to curb migration over the Mexican border.
"There is not enough production in the world today, using artillery as an example, enough for the Ukrainian army to withstand a war against the Russian army," Zelensky said.
He also revealed that the stock of Ukrainian weapons suffers from drone and shell shortages, creating a "deficit" that obstructs the execution of certain goals the country is aiming for.
Moreover, Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Alexander Kamyshin said that Ukraine does not produce enough arms, alluding that foreign military aid is a necessity to sustain the war.
Zelensky echoed Kamyshin and warned against the repercussions of the war if military aid to Ukraine stops.
"We will be weak on the battlefield, we will have a big shortage of artillery, we will not be able to repel ballistic missile strikes, there will be a large number of killed and wounded people ... There will be a big crisis for the whole Europe. Without help from the United States and the European Union, Ukraine will struggle, will be weaker, and Russia will have the opportunity to take us over."
Read more: Russia to prevail in Ukraine war if EU doesn't shift strategy: Borrell
Biden to the rescue
US President Joe Biden warned Republicans Wednesday that blocking vital US military aid for Ukraine threatened the "free world" as talks with congressional leaders at the White House failed to produce a breakthrough.
Biden told the visiting House and Senate leaders that the months-long standoff "endangers the United States' national security, the NATO alliance, and the rest of the free world," according to the White House.
"The president called on Congress to quickly provide additional funding to support Ukraine and send a strong signal of US resolve. The president also made clear that we must act now to address the challenges at the border."
Western war stockpiles taking their last breath
The issue lies within depleting war stockpiles in certain Western nations amid a general failure in Ukraine.
At the start of January, The Times reported that the United Kingdom's arms stockpile was nearly emptied after almost two years of deliveries to Ukraine. The British newspaper added that the UK, along with other Western nations, is ramping up arms production.
Having spent more than £4.6 billion ($5.7 billion) on providing military supply to Kiev since February 2022, London was warned in July by NATO's deputy supreme allied commander for Europe, Gen. Tim Radford, that it was at risk of jeopardizing its standing within the US-led bloc, citing issues such as personnel shortages among the contributing factors.
According to an unidentified Ukrainian military source cited by The Times, Britain was reported to have exhausted its available weaponry for donation, yet the anonymous official acknowledged that London continued to play a pivotal role in influencing other nations to send arms to Kiev.
As for the US, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby revealed that aid to Ukraine has been suspended.
“We have issued the last drawdown package that we had funding to support, and that’s why it’s critical that Congress move on that national security supplemental request,” Kirby said, noting that US military support for Ukraine has "ground to a halt."
