"If they will cut, I think we will lose": US military aid cut could leave Ukraine vulnerable to Russian aggression, Zelensky warns
Ukraine could face a dire situation if the US were to reduce its military aid. Currently, the resources of Ukrainian production are inadequate to oppose Russian aggression effectively.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated this in his interview with the Fox News channel.
The channel reporter asked the Ukrainian president about Ukraine's course of action in the event of diminished assistance from Washington. Zelensky plainly stated that in such a scenario, the likelihood of success could greatly diminish:
"If they will cut, I think we will lose. Of course, anyway, we will stay, and we will fight. We have production, but it's not enough to prevail. And I think it is not enough to survive," the president said.
The president emphasized that Ukraine is ready to fight for its independence under any conditions, but this will become much more difficult without proper support from Western partners.
During the conversation, Zelensky also recalled Ukraine's position in negotiations with the United States and European partners:
"We are an independent country. And during this war, we – both our people and I personally in negotiations with the United States, with Trump, Biden, and European leaders – proved that the rhetoric of "Sit down and listen" does not work with us," the president said.
This statement was made against the backdrop of possible changes in the US political landscape, where some politicians advocate reducing financial support for Kyiv.
For reference:
Support from the US, particularly the supply of weapons, ammunition, and other equipment, is crucial in countering Russian aggression. A reduction in this assistance could significantly affect Ukraine's ability to continue active defense and effectively protect its territories.
It should be noted that on November 17, Western media reported that the administration of US President Biden permitted Ukraine to use provided American weapons to strike at Russian territory.
Following the US, similar permissions were granted by France and the UK.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the media wrote that the United States and its partners had allowed Ukraine to launch long-range strikes at the territory of the Russian Federation. However, strikes are not made with words; the missiles will speak for themselves.
What will the permission to strike at the Russian Federation with long-range weapons mean:
- First of all, this is a direct threat to 15 Russian air bases, from where planes take off that launch guided aerial bombs at Ukrainian positions and cities. Theoretically, this could stop the terror of Kharkiv, Sumy, and the border region.
- In September, Putin stated that strikes at the Russian Federation with long-range weapons would mean the direct participation of NATO countries in the war.
- The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has compiled a list of 245 Russian military facilities within the ATACMS range.
- One component of the Victory Plan is the authorization to launch strikes at Russia. Zelensky has consistently stated that Ukrainians are aware of the origin of the missiles and bombs being launched at them, as it is all documented. The only thing lacking was the approval to act.