Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to Kyiv’s allies on Tuesday to supply more air defences, saying Russia had launched 130 missiles, more than 320 attack drones and almost 900 guided bombs in attacks this month alone.
More than two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kyiv relies heavily on foreign military aid, some of which has waned. A major aid package from the United States, a close wartime ally, has been blocked by congressional Republicans for months.
A firefighter extinguishes fire in a car destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on 17th March, 2024. PICTURE: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Mykolaiv region/Handout via Reuters/File photo
“We require more protection, specifically a fully realistic number of air defense systems that our partners possess,” Zelenskiy said on social media platform X.
“Patriots and other systems must do what they were designed for: protect lives, not collect dust in storage.”
Ukraine’s air force, Zelenskiy said, has “demonstrated that it is capable of successfully shooting down” missiles, drones and Russian military aircraft.
A Ukrainian delegation prioritised securing more air defence systems and missiles at a meeting of allied defence ministers in Germany’s Ramstein air base on Tuesday, the Ukrainian defence ministry said.
Russian troops have stepped up their use of highly destructive guided bombs in recent months, targeting battlefield positions and regions close to the front line.
In February, a Ukrainian air force spokesperson said Russia had launched more than 8,000 missiles and 4,630 drones during the invasion to date.
In March, Russia concentrated air strikes on Odesa, targeting the Black Sea port city and region almost every day. Two ballistic missiles killed 21 and injured over 70 people in one attack last week.
Moscow denies targeting civilians in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine which it launched in February 2022, although many have been killed in frequent Russian air strikes across the country.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the American military’s Ramstein Air Base, near Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, on 19th March, 2024. PICTURE: Reuters/Thilo Schmuelgen
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s survival was in danger and sought to convince allies that the United States was committed to Kyiv, even as Washington has essentially run out of money to continue arming Ukrainian forces.
Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on a bill that would provide $US60 billion more for Ukraine and the White House has been scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Kyiv, which has been battling Russian forces for more than two years.
Austin is leading the monthly meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group (UDCG), held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, of about 50 allies that have been militarily supporting Ukraine.
“Today, Ukraine’s survival is in danger and America’s security is at risk,” Austin said at a press conference after the meeting.
“I leave here today fully determined to keep US security assistance and ammunition flowing. And that’s a matter of survival and sovereignty for Ukraine and it’s a matter of honour and security for America,” he added.
We rely on our readers to fund Sight's work - become a financial supporter today!
For more information, head to our Subscriber's page.
Austin, who is traveling for the first time this year since prostate cancer treatment, did not say how Washington would support Ukraine without additional funding.
Officials say the lack of funding available is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources.
“I think our allies are acutely aware of our funding situation and the Ukrainians more so than anyone because of the shortages that are resulting from us not being able to supply them,” a senior US defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.
Last week the Biden administration said it would send $US300 million in military assistance to Ukraine, but added that it was an extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the Pentagon had made.
Officials have not ruled out that they could find additional savings, but they say that amount would not be enough to make up for the lack of Congressional action.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 126th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade fire a D-30 howitzer towards Russian troops at a position in a front line, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine, on 12th March, 2024. PICTURE: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via Reuters/File photo
Experts say that Austin will face a sceptical audience in Europe.
“It’s becoming harder and harder for US leaders to travel to Europe, with the message that the United States is committed to Ukraine in the long-term,” Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center in Washington, said.
“The message of this long-term financial, military, economic commitment flies in the face of the reality of what’s happening on Capitol Hill,” Rizzo added.
At a joint press conference in Berlin on Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, whose ammunition-starved troops face their toughest battles since the early days of Russia’s invasion two years ago.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday a €500 million aid package for Ukraine which includes 10,000 rounds of ammunition and said the United States was still a reliable partner.
“I have no doubt about the reliability of the Americans,” Pistorius said.
“There are particularities in the political systems, and we have to deal with that,” Pistorius added.
European support has become increasingly key with Biden unable to get a big Ukraine aid package through Congress, and much of his foreign policy energy is focused on the war in Gaza.
But US officials say that the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine will not be enough to fend off Russian forces.
“There isn’t a way that our allies can really combine forces to make up for the lack of US support,” the senior US defence official said.
– Additional reporting by ALEXANDER RATZ and MADELINE CHAMBERS
