Ukraine’s Zelensky urges leaders to send arms, says no alternative to US aid
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky receives standing ovation prior to delivering his speech at the Munich Security Conference, in Germany.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies at a global security conference on Feb 17 to plug an “artificial” shortage of weapons that is giving Russian forces the upper hand on the battlefield and said stalled US aid was imperative.
Addressing the gathering of politicians, diplomats and military officials from around the world, who gave him a standing ovation, Mr Zelensky mixed gratitude for the support shown by Western countries with urging them for more.
He spoke at a critical juncture in Russia’s nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine, with his troops forced to withdraw from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka.
Ukraine faces acute shortages of ammunition and US military aid has been delayed for months in Congress.
“Unfortunately, keeping Ukraine in an artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war,” Mr Zelensky said.
He said that sending additional packages of weapons and air defences to Ukraine was the most important thing its allies could do.
“If your artillery (range) is 20km, but Russia’s is 40km, there is your answer,” Mr Zelensky said.
US Vice-President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, denounced “political gamesmanship” in Congress
US Republicans have insisted for months that any additional US aid to Ukraine, and Israel, must also address concerns about migration.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has said he would ask European allies to reimburse the US for around US$200 billion (S$270 billion) worth of munitions sent to Ukraine.
That has raised concern by Kyiv and its allies that US funding for Kyiv in its war against Russia would dry up completely if Trump went on to win a second term in the November US election.
Mr Zelensky said there was no alternative though to US aid.
“We are counting on the United States as our strategic partner, that they would remain our strategic partner,” he said.
Europe must up its defence game
The delay in US aid is putting more of a burden on Europe, with Germany the second largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine.
Berlin says it has provided and committed to some €28 billion (S$40 billion) of such aid so far.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz side-stepped questions on Feb 17 on whether to give long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv, although he did urge other European capitals to match Berlin’s hike in military assistance.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine must be integrated into Europe’s defence programmes as Russia was “outmassing Ukraine” with soldiers and by “throwing quick and dirty weapons produced in North Korea and Iran”. The European Commission will present a defence industrial strategy proposal
Mr Scholz and Dr von der Leyen also said Europe needed to strengthen its ability to defend itself.
A potential return of Trump to the White House is fanning fears about US commitment to defending its allies.
Trump said a week ago that if re-elected later in 2024 he would not defend allies within the Nato western defence alliance
Mr Scholz said that Germany is discussing the development of distance-capable precision weapons with France and Britain in order to ensure its deterrence strategy remains cutting-edge.
‘Stop whining about Trump’
Trump or no Trump, Europe still has to strengthen its ability to defend itself, Mr Scholz and others underscored at the conference, dubbed the “Davos of Defence”.
“We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump,” said outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “We do not spend more on defence or ramp up ammunitions production because Trump might come back.”
“We have to work with whoever is on the dance floor,” said Mr Rutte, front runner to succeed Mr Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of Nato when he steps down.
Mr Stoltenberg reiterated the importance of not undermining the defence alliance with talk of European defence autonomy.
Talk in particular of a potential European nuclear deterrent that would not involve the US is “not helpful”, he told delegates in Munich on Feb 17. And it “would only undermine Nato in a time when we really need credible deterrence”. REUTERS
