During a joint press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for faster delivery of military aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that while small amounts of vital US weapons have started to arrive in Ukraine, the pace of deliveries needs to be accelerated as Russian forces continue their advance on the battlefield. He stressed that the situation directly depended on the speed of ammunition supplies to Ukraine. Last week, the United States approved a $61bn aid package, which included military aid to Ukraine. This has raised Kyiv’s hopes that its low stocks of artillery shells will soon be replenished as it fights off Russia’s two-year invasion.
Stoltenberg, however, criticised NATO members for failing to live up to their promises of military aid in recent months. He said that serious delays in support had led to serious consequences on the battlefield, allowing Russia to push forward along the front line. The lack of ammunition, air defence, and deep strike capabilities have made it possible for the Russians to concentrate more forces. He noted that Germany had agreed to provide another Patriot air defence system to Ukraine while the Netherlands had boosted its military aid to Kyiv. Stoltenberg also pointed to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement of a “record high” commitment to Kyiv, and he expected other “new commitments to come” from other NATO members.
Military analysts say that the war in Ukraine is still largely an artillery duel. The belated building of battlefield fortifications and drawn-out Ukrainian efforts to mobilize more troops are other factors undermining Ukraine’s war effort. Analysts expect that the conditions are being set for which side has the military advantage at the front line, and the Russian military is currently in a better position. Though they do not expect to see major movement of the front lines in the near term, maneuver will be restored to the battlefield when one side or the other is in a position to move the front line.
