The Ukrainian president dropped the accusations and said that if the West delivered long-range munitions faster, the Ukrainian army would also advance faster.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged this Friday that Russia, with its air superiority, is slowing the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, complaining about the slowdown in Western military aid and sanctions against Moscow.
If we are not in heaven and Russia prevents us from reaching heaven. They are preventing our counteroffensive,” declared the Ukrainian president, quoted by France Presse (AFP), during a conference in kyiv.
The Ukrainian head of state also pointed out processes “that are becoming more complicated and slower, when it comes to sanctions or arms supplies” from the West.
The war is slowing down, we recognize it,” he said.
And he continued: “When partners ask us what is the next step in the counteroffensive?, my answer is that today our steps are probably faster than the new sanctions packages” that target Russia.
Ukraine periodically complains about the slow pace of retaliatory measures (sanctions) aimed at curbing the Russian war effort.
Zelensky once again stressed that if the West delivered long-range ammunition more quickly, allowing it to attack the Russian rear and logistics, the Ukrainian army would also advance faster.
A specific weapon has a specific impact. The more powerful and long-range, the faster the counteroffensive will be,” he highlighted.
The Western allies only delivered munitions of this type in a very gradual manner, fearing that kyiv would use them to bomb Russian territory, which could cause an escalation of the conflict.
In the same way, Ukraine has been complaining for months about the slow pace of negotiations on the delivery of F-16 fighters.while the country only has a small, older fleet of aircraft developed during the Soviet era.
After months of discussions and waiting for the “green light” from Washington, several dozen of these North American aircraft will be delivered by European countries, but their arrival in the skies of Ukraine will take months, taking into account, in particular, training. pilot period.
Zelensky’s words come after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to kyiv on Wednesday. where he praised the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, while announcing a new aid package for Ukraine worth one billion dollars. (about 933 million euros at the current exchange rate), to which was added, the next day, new funding from the Department of Defense for military support worth 600 million dollars (about 560 million euros).
The Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June in the east and south faces difficulties in advancing due to Russian air superiority, but also a complex network of defense lines, in particular on the front towards the Sea of Azov, formed by trenches, minefields and anti-tank traps.
Ukraine hopes, however, to be able to open a breach in the Robotyne area, in the south, after taking this town considered strategic. Moscow has so far not admitted a withdrawal in this area and reports daily fighting.
Source: Observadora
