Ukrainian forces would have to cede further territory to Russia if US military aid does not arrive soon, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned, in his latest appeal to Congress to pass a multibillion-dollar package.

President Joe Biden’s administration is struggling to push a $95 billion international aid package – which includes $60 billion for Ukraine – through the House of Representatives more than month since it was passed in the Senate.

Zelensky warned that the lack of aid was urgent, and could endanger Ukraine’s major cities.

“If there is no US support, it means that we have no air defense, no Patriot missiles, no jammers for electronic warfare, no 155-millimeter artillery rounds,” he told The Washington Post during a recent interview published Friday. “It means we will go back, retreat, step by step, in small steps.”

  • JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    The western ‘aid’ is restricted to holding the line, not counterattack, right? How does it serve Ukraine’s interests moving forward? Establish a head to support efforts to advance into Russian territory?

    • Bernie_Sandals@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Wdym the Western aid is restricted from counterattacking? Nothing about that is true, U.S. aid is being held up solely by the Republicans, and European aid is continuing mostly as normal. None of Ukraine’s counteroffensives have ever led to a decrease in aid, only an increase.

      • Spzi@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        In Germany, whenever the discussion about wether to deliver a specific weapon system or not extends to a “new” weapon system, this usually is an argument against. Hurr durr, it could be used to poke too deep into Russian-held territory, or beware, even strike native Russian soil. Russia might not like that and pull Germany into the war or throw a nuke or whatnot.

    • narp@feddit.de
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      9 months ago

      What line are you talking about? The Russian army is in ukrainian territory and needs to be kicked out, no one is talking about invading Russia.

      • JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        No argument about that. But Russia (not me) still believes crimea is their territory. What I meant above is that I was under the impression that the western aid is provided under tha agreement that it will not be used on russian territories. Even if all the western countries believes Crimea belongs to Ukraine, the Russians may take it differently, causing some difficulties. I believe Russia should gtfo, willingly or by force.

        • narp@feddit.de
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          9 months ago

          I seem to remember sth like that was said at the beginning of the war.

          Now France is talking about putting boots on the ground, multiple attacks on Crimean infrastructure already happened and Europe is getting more worried about the getting attacked as well if Putin gets his way.

          I doubt anyone cares about it anymore and Putin can punch sand.

    • dwalin@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Afaik: thats why they are using ukranian made drones to attack the refineries.

    • slaacaa@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      The strategy until recently was more about the steady attrition of Russian HR and equipment, which is a long term game, but needs the proper funding, otherwise Ukraine would have to give up positions.

    • Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      Typically the rules have been that they can use the weapons on occupied Ukrainian lands, but not pre-2014 Russian territory.

      They can use the aid to take back what has been stolen but can’t use missiles to bomb Moscow for added pressure to stop the war.