Ukraine is suffering from an acute shortage of ammunition and weapons. Now President Zelenskyj has shown himself ready to process the urgently needed US aid on credit. He also renewed his call for the “Patriot” air defense system.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has shown himself open to the offer of US arms aid on credit. “We will accept any option,” Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Ukrainian television.
With arms aid worth the equivalent of 40 billion euros, the USA is Ukraine’s most important military ally in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression. However, further arms aid is currently on hold due to a domestic political dispute between Democrats and Republicans. This has put Ukraine on the defensive and is currently losing ground against the Russian occupying forces.
Idea comes from Donald Trump
According to the president, there is no choice for Ukraine. She has to accept every offer in order to win and survive. If he had to decide whether he would get the package on credit now or for free in a year, he would immediately take it on credit, said the Ukrainian head of state.
The idea of giving Ukraine the weapons on credit came from former US President Donald Trump, who is aiming to return to the White House in November. His party, the Republicans, has been blocking the release of an arms package worth $60 billion to Ukraine for months. This has serious consequences for Ukraine; the country is particularly troubled by a lack of ammunition.
Zelensky renews calls for “Patriot” system
In the interview, Zelensky also renewed his calls for additional missile defense. If Russia continues to shell Ukraine every day like it did in March, “we could run out of missiles, and our partners know that,” the Ukrainian president said.
For now, his country is adequately equipped for air defense, but has to choose what needs to be protected. For complete protection, however, 25 “Patriot” missile defense systems, each with six to eight batteries, are required.
“Kharkiv is protected today”
The situation on the front in the east of the country remains tense. The city of Kharkiv, a city of over a million inhabitants, was heavily bombarded at the weekend. The Ukrainian president firmly countered rumors about a possible impending Russian offensive on the metropolis. “Kharkiv is protected today,” said Zelensky. He acknowledged that the city remains vulnerable to air strikes, but he was fully confident of the area’s defense on the ground. According to him, the fortifications built by Ukraine are largely finished not only in Kharkiv, but also in large parts of the front and border areas.
“The situation is difficult, but nevertheless stabilized,” said Zelensky, referring to the front line. “The enemy does not advance: if he takes a step forward, we will repel him and he will retreat. On the contrary, our people will take a few steps forward.”
There is currently heavy fighting, especially in the Donetsk region. According to official reports, at least five civilians were killed yesterday by Russian artillery fire in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the region. On the other hand, the authorities in the regional capital Donetsk, which is occupied by Russian troops, reported eleven injured by Ukrainian shelling.
Zelenskyj speaks of existing mobilization in Russia
Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for further Russian mobilization. Citing intelligence information, Zelensky claimed that Russia planned to put 300,000 troops on standby by June 1 to continue its offensive that began in the fall.
Officially, Moscow has so far denied plans for another wave of mobilization. However, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the war of aggression against the neighboring country, he also assured his compatriots that only volunteers and professional soldiers would be sent to the war – called a “special military operation” in Moscow. After a series of defeats, in autumn 2022 he announced a partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists who were sent to the front in Ukraine.
Heike Lüttich, SWR, tagesschau, April 7th, 2024 9:34 a.m