Ukraine needs ‘speed-up’ in military aid deliveries: Zelensky
Kyiv, Ukraine - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country needs a ‘significant speed-up’ in military aid deliveries to bolster the capabilities of its soldiers on the frontline with Russia.
“We need a significant speedup of deliveries to strengthen the capabilities of our soldiers tangibly. It is not Russian air bombs and assault operations that should dominate the frontline, but our Ukrainian initiative,” Zelensky said in an evening video address on Tuesday.
Expressing that Ukraine’s shortcomings with regard to the delay in military aid deliveries to Kyiv are being solved partially by domestic production, Zelensky said they have achieved ‘particular results’ concerning drones.
“I am grateful to everyone who works for this cause, who produces drones, who trains operators, who provides everything we need. I thank each of our partners who now are really doing everything they can to strengthen our position,” Zelensky further said.
He said Kyiv is counting on the US military aid deliveries, which
he said are deliveries that ‘should be felt’ by Russia. “In the south of our country. Everywhere where Russia is pushing and where we have to push it back. And also everywhere where new strike threats may arise,” he added.
Last week, US President Joe Biden signed a Us$60.8bn aid bill to Ukraine into law as the country continues to fight off Russia’s war that began in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Germany completed the delivery of a new military package to Ukraine, involving combat vehicles and ammunition for air defence systems, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
According to a document published on the government’s website, German authorities have recently handed over 10 Marder combat vehicles with ammunition and spare parts, an air surveillance radar, and a second Skynex anti-aircraft system to Ukraine.
The government’s updated list also included 30,000 rounds of ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, an unspecified amount of ammunition for Leopard 2 battle tanks, and IRIS-T air defence systems, as well as 7,500 rounds of 155mm ammunition.
Berlin increased its military support to Ukraine following pressure from the US and other allies, and it is currently the second-largest supplier of weapons to the country.
Since the war began, Germany delivered or earmarked Us$30bn worth of weapons to Ukraine, according to official figures.
The military assistance included advanced weapons and equipment such as Leopard 2 battle tanks, Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, Marder combat vehicles, Patriot and IRIS-T air defence systems.