Zelensky: New counteroffensive hinges on Western arms deliveries
Zelensky, in a conversation with Bloomberg, announced a new counteroffensive. He explained that Ukraine will be ready as soon as it receives further deliveries of Western weapons. "Ukraine constantly has to wait a long time for help, which makes it unable to achieve its military goals," the Ukrainian president complained.
In an interview with Bloomberg, the Ukrainian president announced that Ukraine is ready for another counteroffensive on the front. However, he pointed out one condition. Soldiers are still waiting for weapons deliveries from the West. "When there is a sufficient amount of weapons, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be ready to take decisive action," he assured.
He strongly disagreed with calling the situation on the front a "blind alley." According to him, army units are now better equipped than a few months ago, and a new counteroffensive will start when they are rearmed to the required extent.
"This is not a dead-end street but a problematic situation," said Zelensky. "A blind alley means there is no way out. But a problem can be solved if you have the will and the necessary tools. We have the will, but the tools have not yet arrived," he added.
Zelensky also assured that he was grateful for the next aid package approved this year by the US Congress, but he said it would take too long to deliver military equipment to the front.
"The greatest tragedy of this war is that between the decision and the fact, we must wait a very long time," he summarized.
New arms package for Ukraine from the USA
The White House announced on Wednesday a new arms package for Ukraine worth 3.3 billion Canadian dollars. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced that the new package would mainly include ammunition for the most critical systems used by the Ukrainian army—HIMARS, artillery, HAWK air defense systems, 155-mm and 105-mm howitzers, mortars, TOW, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and AT-4 grenade launchers. Additionally, Ukraine will receive air navigation systems and other aviation equipment.
In addition to transferring the equipment directly from American depots, the USA will also buy Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles for Ukraine worth 3.1 billion Canadian dollars.
According to the Pentagon, the missiles will reach the front on an accelerated schedule due to the decision to prioritize deliveries for Ukraine at the expense of some other countries ordering these missiles. The package worth 3.4 billion Canadian dollars is one of the largest of the sixty tranches adopted.
