Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Friday that Russia, with its air superiority, was stopping the Ukrainian counteroffensive and complained about slowing Western military aid and sanctions against Moscow.
The war is slowing down, we recognize this fact
he has said. When partners tell us “what is the next step in the counteroffensive?”, my answer is that today our steps are probably faster than the new sanctions packages.
targeting Russia, he said.
Ukraine regularly complains about the slow pace of retaliatory measures aimed at curbing the Russian war effort. Zelensky once again stressed that if the West delivered more quickly long-range munitions, allowing to attack Russian defenses, rear and logistics, the Ukrainian army would also advance faster.
A specific weapon has a specific impact. The more powerful and long-range it is, the faster the counteroffensive will be.
The Westerners have only delivered ammunition of this type in dribs and drabs, fearing that kyiv will use them, despite its promises, to bomb Russian territory, which could cause an escalation of the war.
Similarly, Ukraine has been complaining for months about the slow pace of negotiations over the delivery of F-16 fighters, while the country only has a small, aging fleet of aircraft developed during the Soviet era.
After months of delays, several dozen of these American aircraft will be delivered by European countries, but their arrival on the battlefield will take months, especially taking into account the training times of the crew.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June in the east and south is struggling to advance due to Russian air superiority, but also a complex network of defense lines, particularly in the south, made up of trenches, minefields and anti-tank traps. .
However, Ukraine hopes to be able to open a breach in the Robotyné 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 in the sector.
