Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that if Ukraine does not receive the military assistance promised by the United States, which is being hindered by disagreements in Congress, its forces will have to retreat "step by step." Zelensky told The Washington Post, "If U.S. support is absent, it means we have no air defenses, no Patriot missiles, no electronic warfare jamming devices, or 155mm artillery shells." He added, "This means we will retreat, we will fall back, step by step." He continued, "We are trying to find a way so that we do not retreat."
On Friday, Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi revealed that his soldiers are fighting at the front with "little or even no weapons and ammunition," reiterating his call for the West to deliver military equipment to Ukraine more quickly. During an interview with the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, broadcasted on Friday, Syrskyi stated that "defense forces are completing tasks along the front line with little or even no weapons and ammunition."
More than two years into the war, the Ukrainian president is daily urging his Western allies to provide military assistance more swiftly, particularly calling for ammunition, more air defense systems, and fighter jets. Western military aid to Ukraine is facing several obstacles, notably the division in the U.S. Congress between Republicans and Democrats regarding a proposed aid package by President Joe Biden's administration, and the limited capabilities of European countries to provide the necessary amounts of ammunition.
