Ukraine asks NATO to speed up military aid after Russian offensives
2023.02.15 09:37
Ukraine asks NATO to speed up military aid after Russian offensives
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – While Russia bombarded the eastern front line in what appeared to be the first salvoes of a fresh offensive, Ukraine urged allies to accelerate the pace of military assistance as NATO defense ministers prepared to meet for a second day on Wednesday.
Bakhmut, a bombed-out city in the Donetsk province and a primary target for President Vladimir Putin, received the majority of Russia’s artillery fire. In anticipation of street fighting, Ukrainian troops have strengthened their positions.
Russia would gain momentum after months of setbacks if Bakhmut’s capture served as a stepping stone to advance on two larger cities in Donetsk, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, ahead of the first anniversary of the invasion on Feb. 24.
“The situation on the front lines remains extremely difficult, particularly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In his address to the nation that evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated, “The battles are literally for every foot of Ukrainian land.”
Zelenskiy stated earlier in the day that Russia is rushing to accomplish as much as it can with its latest push before Ukraine and its allies gain strength.
He stated, “That is why speed is so important.” Everything moves quickly, from making decisions to carrying them out to shipping supplies to training. People’s lives are saved by speed.
Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles to stop the Russian offensive and reclaim lost territory, and it uses shells faster than the West can make them.
During the NATO defense chiefs’ meeting in Brussels, the United States and NATO pledged that Western support would not wane in the face of a looming Russian offensive.
“At this crucial turning point in the war, Ukraine needs assistance urgently. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “We believe there will be a window of opportunity for them to exercise initiative.” He predicted that Ukraine would launch its own offensive in the spring.
Boris Pistorius, the German defense minister, stated that supplying Ukraine with fighter jets would undoubtedly be discussed, but that it was not currently a priority.
Russia, which describes the invasion as a “special military operation” to eliminate security threats, claimed NATO was increasing its involvement in the conflict and demonstrating its hostility toward Russia on a daily basis. Russia’s actions are described as an unprovoked land grab by Kyiv and its allies.
Putin was “preparing for more war, for new offensives and attacks,” according to NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg.
In recent weeks, the Kremlin has intensified attacks across a portion of southern and eastern Ukraine, prompting widespread anticipation of a significant new offensive.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Wednesday that Russian forces had shelled more than 25 settlements in the direction of Bakhmut in Donetsk over the course of the previous day.
It also stated that Ukrainian forces repelled attacks in the vicinity of more than twenty settlements, including Bakhmut and Vuhledar, a town 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Bakhmut.
According to Ukrainian officials, the Russians had lost tanks, armored vehicles, and personnel in the area around Vuhledar.
Oleh Zhdanov, a Ukrainian military analyst, stated, “Fighting is raging to secure an advantage around every single house (in Bakhmut).” The situation is still extremely challenging, but our forces are in control, and the front line has not moved.
In a YouTube video, Zhdanov added, “There are a very large number of Russian troops, and it is a very difficult grind.”
John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House (NYSE:) said that Russian troops had made small gains around Bakhmut.
According to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner mercenary group leader who has led the assault on Bakhmut, Russian forces will not be able to take the town soon. He claimed that Ukraine was adding up to 500 new fighters per day in a post on Telegram.
Nearly all of Luhansk and more than half of Donetsk, including the region’s capital, are held by Russia, which also owns portions of the southern regions of Ukraine known as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as its nuclear facility.
According to a report supported by the United States that was released on Tuesday, Russia had held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children—possibly many more—in camps in Crimea and Russia for what appeared to be political reeducation.
According to the Russian embassy in Washington, Ukraine’s shelling forced children to flee with their families.
