Zelensky complains that the war between Israel and Hamas has slowed down deliveries of grenades to Ukraine
The war between Israel and Hamas has led to a slowdown in grenade deliveries to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a small group of media outlets, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), on Thursday.
“What do you think people in the Middle East bought first? THE [obus de] 155 caliber. Our supplies are running low,” he said.
Israel, which benefits from military support from the United States, has bombed the Gaza Strip relentlessly since Hamas militants massacred hundreds of civilians in an unprecedented attack in early October.
“It’s not like the United States said: we don’t give anything to Ukraine. NO ! “We have serious, very strong relations,” Mr. Zelensky assured. “It’s normal, everyone struggles to survive,” he continued. “I’m not saying it’s a positive thing, but it’s life and we have to defend what’s ours. »
After nearly two years of war since the invasion of Moscow, Russia and Ukraine are struggling to maintain their stockpiles of artillery shells. South Korea has claimed Russia’s ally Pyongyang sent a million artillery shells to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in exchange for Moscow’s satellite expertise. Germany, for its part, said this week that despite its best efforts, the European Union (EU) would not achieve its goal of sending one million artillery shells to Ukraine.
“Today we have problems with artillery shells of 155” caliber, complained Mr. Zelensky. Across the world, “the warehouses are now empty or there is a legal minimum that this or that particular state cannot provide you,” he explained. “And that’s not enough. » Mr. Zelensky, however, welcomed the United States’ efforts to increase production of this type of ammunition.
But the problem is all the more serious, says the Ukrainian president, because on the other side of the front, Russian forces are stockpiling missiles in anticipation of massive attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure this winter. “I think they are increasing [des missiles], but they don’t have many more missiles than before. Otherwise they would have already started bombing,” he said.
His country expects more attacks on its energy grid, like last winter, when freezing temperatures left millions of Ukrainians without heat or electricity. “I think we are better prepared for winter than before,” Mr. Zelensky said. “But I don’t think Russia will use fewer weapons. The winter will be difficult.”
“In terms of air defense, we are better positioned than we were last winter,” he added.