The Ukrainian President has said that if the US do not provide military aid then will be forced to “retreat step by step.”
Volodymyr Zelensky warned that “if Ukraine falls, Putin will divide the world” and his is urging American politicians to stop their “bickering” in Washington as ATACMS “is the answer.”
During an interview with the Washington Post Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are not able to plan for a counteroffensive because they do not know if there will be any weapons or ammunition.
He said, “If you are not taking steps forward to prepare another counteroffensive, Russia will take them.
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“That’s what we learned in this war. If you don’t do it, Russia will do it.”
In February Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from Avdiivka which was by in large due to ammunition shortages.
Zelensky said, “We are trying to find some way not to retreat.”
The Ukrainian leader added that after the fall of Avdiivka “we have stabilised the situation because of smart steps by our military.”
But he warned, “If there is no U.S. support, it means that we have no air defense, no Patriot missiles, no jammers for electronic warfare, no 155mm artillery rounds.
“It means we will go back, retreat, step by step, in small steps.”
Ukrainian forces have a lack of long-range missiles and air defence missiles are now running dangerously low.
Zelensky said, “When Russia has missiles and we don’t, they attack by missiles. Everything — gas, energy, schools, factories, civilian buildings.”
He added, “ATACM-300s, that is the answer.”
Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) have a range of 300 kilometres and some were delivered in October last year, however Washington have been “bickering” for months whether or not to send military aid to Ukraine.
President Zelensky said, “Newer variations of ATACMS have a maximum range of around 300 kilometres and have so far not been provided to Ukraine.
“When Russia knows we can destroy these jets, they will not attack from Crimea.
“It’s like with the (Black Sea) fleet. We pushed them from our territorial waters. Now we will push them from the airports in Crimea.”
He added, “We can’t waste time anymore. Ukraine can’t be a political issue between the parties.
“If Ukraine falls, Putin will divide the world.”
