Ukraine has received 1,550 armoured vehicles, 230 tanks, Nato chief says

WASHINGTON - Nato allies and partners have provided Ukraine with 1,550 armoured vehicles and 230 tanks to form units and help it retake territory from Russian forces, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

The deliveries, since the start of the war in February 2022, represent “more than 98 per cent of the combat vehicles promised to Ukraine”, Mr Stoltenberg told a news conference.

“In total we have trained and equipped more than nine new Ukrainian armoured brigades. This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory,” he said.

Nato member countries have also provided anti-aircraft systems and artillery while Poland and the Czech Republic have given Soviet-built MiG-29 aircraft.

Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been trained on weapons used by Nato.

Mr Stoltenberg emphasised this “unprecedented military support to Ukraine” but cautioned that “we should never underestimate Russia”.

Moscow was mobilising more ground forces and was “willing to send in thousands of troops with very high casualty rates”, he said.

In the face of what appears will be a prolonged conflict, Nato countries “must stay the course and continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to prevail”, the alliance chief said.

Mr Stoltenberg said that a Nato summit in July in Lithuania would set out plans for a “multi-year programme of support” for Ukraine.

He also welcomed a conversation on Wednesday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping – their first call since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing says it is neutral in the Ukraine conflict and Mr Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion.

The Chinese leader, who made a friendly visit to Moscow in March, has come under increased pressure from Western nations to step in and mediate.

“Maybe this war will end at the negotiating table,” Mr Stoltenberg said. But he stressed that “it is for Ukraine to decide what are the conditions for talks and what format any talks should have”.

Mr Stoltenberg’s remarks came hours after a similar report from Nato’s top military commander, General Christopher Cavoli, who is also the top commander of US forces in Europe.

In testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee, he said, “I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need, and we’ll continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well.”

The United States and Nato allies have supplied Ukraine with extensive artillery and ammunition for

a long-heralded counteroffensive

, and officials now say they are hopeful the supplies will last – a change from two months ago, when they were only trickling in and US officials were worried that they might run out.

Gen Cavoli explained to lawmakers how the allies worked with Ukraine to determine their war needs.

“We checked it a couple of times, and we gathered it from our allies, who were very generous, especially with regard to tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. And we have been shipping it into the country,” Gen Cavoli said, adding, “The Ukrainians are in a good position.”

Asked why the Biden administration had not rushed the delivery of advanced US fighter jets, like Air Force F-16’s, to Ukraine, Gen Cavoli said that Ukrainian forces had other more urgent requirements for the offensive, which US officials now expect to start as early as next month.

Ms Celeste Wallander, the US assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs, told the lawmakers that advanced Western fighter aircraft ranked only “about eighth” on Ukraine’s priority list.

She said officials focused on resources with the “highest priority capabilities, and that has been air defence, artillery and armour.”

“There’s also a timing issue,” Ms Wallander added.

“What do they require right now, which is what we’ve been focused on for the battles that they’re facing. What can we deliver that will be timely and effective?”

Ukraine shares few details of its operational planning with US officials, but the counteroffensive appears likely to unfold in the country’s south, including along Ukraine’s coastline on the Sea of Azov, near the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, US officials say.

While Ukrainian officials have said that their goal is to break through dug-in Russian defences and create a widespread collapse in Russia’s army, US officials have assessed that the counteroffensive is unlikely to dramatically shift momentum in Ukraine’s favour.

Mr Zelensky has urged Western allies to send modern fighter aircraft and long-range missiles to help repel Russian troops, but Nato countries have so far stopped short of supplying Western-made jets.

The Kremlin has sought to portray the involvement of Nato countries in bolstering Ukraine’s defences as the alliance being directly involved in the conflict, something the alliance denies. AFP, NYTIMES