Ukraine is being ‘outgunned’ against Russia, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg warns as he calls for members to increase their support for the embattled country
The head of NATO warned that Ukraine was being “outmaneuvered” on the battlefields as he demanded members increase their support for Kiev.
In an impassioned plea, Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian troops on the front line face bleak prospects due to the critical shortage of grenades and artillery.
They were recently forced to withdraw from the strategically important city of Avdiivka because they could no longer withstand the intensity of the Russian attack.
The Secretary General of NATO said: ‘The Ukrainians are not running out of courage, but they are running out of ammunition.’
Mr Stoltenberg made his call yesterday at the presentation of NATO’s annual report, which showed that eleven countries now meet the alliance’s defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (photo) made his appeal yesterday during the presentation of the NATO annual report
Emergency services go to the site of the explosion on October 10, 2022 in Kiev, Ukraine
At least seven more NATO members are expected to achieve this goal by the end of this year, a sixfold increase in ten years.
But despite the bloc’s increased funding, Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine urgently needed more aid.
He revealed that the lack of “political will” to help Ukraine has consequences on the battlefield “every day.”
He said: ‘The US, Canada and Europe must do more. The Russians can outsmart the Ukrainians any day. It is one of the reasons why the Russians have been able to make some progress on the battlefield in recent months. Therefore, it is urgent that allies make the decisions necessary to act and supply more ammunition to Ukraine.
A woman is evacuated from a burning apartment building in Kiev on March 15, 2022, after strikes in residential areas killed at least two people
“Of course we have the capacity, we have the economies to be able to provide Ukraine with what it needs. This is a matter of political will to make the decisions and prioritize support.”
The inability of the US Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s latest multibillion-dollar aid package was a textbook example of a lack of political will.
A minority of Republicans managed to block the bill, which would have provided Ukraine with enough ammunition to hold out for several months.
Biden then apologized to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
A Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood that Vladimir Putin (pictured) will order an attack on a NATO state
A continued ammunition shortage could force its forces to sacrifice even more territory, while a Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood that Vladimir Putin would order an attack on a NATO state.
Ukrainian commanders are also deeply concerned about the prospects of a victory for Donald Trump in the November presidential election.
As the former president has repeatedly indicated, he would refuse to sign military aid to Ukraine, forcing the country to negotiate a peace settlement with Russia on the Kremlin’s terms.
Mr Stoltenberg added: ‘Unprecedented assistance from NATO allies has helped Ukraine survive as an independent nation. But Ukraine needs more support, and it needs it now.
“It is urgent that allies make the decisions necessary to supply Ukraine with more ammunition. That is my message to all capitals.’