Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised concerns about western partners’ policies and the pace of deliveries.
Speaking at Ramstein airbase during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, “I’m grateful to all partners for the fact that the NATO summit in Washington was marked by decisions on air defense systems for Ukraine.
“However, many systems have yet to be delivered,” he said.
“I’m glad that the US, the UK, and France are represented here” Zelenskyy stated, adding, “Thanks to our joint courage, we have implemented very important operations, in particular in Crimea.”
“These operations allowed us to return security to the Black Sea and our food exports” he noted.
“Now we hear that your long-range policy has not changed, but we see changes in the ATACMS, Storm Shadows and Scalps –a shortage of missiles and cooperation.
“This applies even to our territory, which is occupied by Russia, including Crimea. We think it is wrong that there are such steps. We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy said that his forces have managed to outfight Russia in many instances with “a minimum of weaponry.”
“But we need more weapons to drive Russian forces off our land and especially in the Donetsk region,” he said.
Zelenskyy cited the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has appeared to prioritize his military’s push to seize the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk over tackling Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
Zelenskyy said that Putin “doesn’t care about Russian land and people. He just wants to grab as much land and as many of our cities as possible.”
The Ukrainian leader also called for prompt delivery of promised arms packages and said more air defense weapons are needed to protect Ukrainians.
A strike on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava this week demonstrated Ukraine’s vulnerability, killing more than 50 people.
“The world has enough air defense systems to ensure that Russian terror does not have results,” he said.
Friday’s meeting comes amid an increased push by Ukrainian leaders for the loosening of restrictions to use long-range weapons inside Russia.
A week ago, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov presented a list of targets inside Russia to the Biden administration during a visit to Washington.
Days later, Russia launched one of the deadliest single attacks since the beginning of the war, killing dozens of people and injuring more than 200 more in a strike on a military educational facility in central Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Announces Russian Losses
Also at the Contact Group meeting on Ukraine’s defense in Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia has lost 6,000 soldiers, killed and wounded, in the Kursk region during the month-long Ukrainian Armed Forces operation.
He also stated that Russia has suffered tens of thousands of additional casualties in other war zones in Ukraine.
The President explained that due to Ukraine’s actions in Kursk, the threat of a Russian attack on Sumy—like the one that occurred in May during Russia’s assault on the Kharkiv region—has been averted.
“The Russians were preparing a new offensive on Sumy,” Zelensky said. “But we have turned the tide and are pushing the war into Russia through our counteroffensive.”
“As a result of our actions, Putin has revealed his true intentions, and this should be clear to anyone who still believes that he is waging this war to protect his people or security interests.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
While the Ukrainian forces advances in the Kursk region, Russia’s army continues its offensive in Ukraine.
Zelensky reported, “The most combat-capable Russian units are focused on expanding their occupation in the Donetsk region. This is Moscow’s clear priority.”
“Putin wants to occupy Ukraine, not ensure Russia’s security,” he added.
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