Ukraine’s chief general claims US lacks essential weapons for effective counteroffensive.

The United States Must Provide Ukraine with the Weapons it Needs, Says Top Military Officer

According to Ukraine’s top military officer, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the United States is not adequately equipping Kyiv with the weapons necessary to push Russian troops out of their territory. Gen. Zaluzhny expressed frustration over the delayed decision to provide his military with fourth-generation fighter aircraft, which may not arrive until the fall at the earliest. He also highlighted the insufficient amount of ammunition provided.

“It pisses me off,” Zaluzhny told the Washington Post, referring to the analysis suggesting limited success in Ukraine’s counteroffensive. He emphasized that his troops have been making daily progress, even if it’s minimal. “This is not a show. Every day, every meter is given by blood.”

President Joe Biden agreed to allow an international coalition of allies to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, but this plan was not intended to provide Ukraine with the aircraft in time for the offensive. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading the training program.

Both Russia and Ukraine lack air superiority, making an offensive more challenging. Gen. Zaluzhny pointed out that NATO forces’ doctrine requires control of the airspace before launching ground-based operations. He also mentioned being outmatched in terms of artillery.

“Without being fully supplied, these plans are not feasible at all,” he added. “But they are being carried out. Yes, maybe not as fast as the participants in the show, the observers, would like, but that is their problem.”

Gen. Zaluzhny frequently communicates with Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, he clarified that it is not up to Gen. Milley to decide whether Ukraine receives planes or not. The delay in decision-making has resulted in daily casualties.

President Biden has also declined to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles that could target Russia’s borders due to concerns about potential Russian escalation. This concern has also led to the postponement of F-16 training and other weapon systems.

The administration is now considering providing Ukraine with an Army Tactical Missile System, a long-range weapon that was previously denied. These missiles have a range of approximately 190 miles.

“I will tell you I don’t have anything to announce regarding ATACMS,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman. “And certainly, I’m not aware of any imminent decisions as it relates to ATACMS.”

It is crucial for the United States to fulfill Ukraine’s weapon requirements to ensure their success in pushing back Russian forces and protecting their territory.

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