PNN – The commander of US forces in Europe told the Congress of this country on Wednesday that without Washington’s support, Ukraine would be in trouble “in short order” and would run out of artillery shells and air defenses, leaving them vulnerable to partial or total defeat.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, “Christopher Cowley”, the commander of the US Army Command Center in Europe, told the Armed Forces Committee of the House of Representatives regarding the rarity of some Ukrainian weapons that Russia is currently firing five rounds for every one fired by Ukrainian forces, and this difference may increase to 10 rounds in the coming weeks.
“If one side can shoot and the other side can’t shoot, the side that can’t shoot loses. So the stakes are high,” Cowley said.
“They’re really depending on us this year and without our support, they can’t win,” he added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has refused to call for a vote on a plan that would provide an additional $60 billion to Ukraine.
The White House is trying to find ways to send aid to Kiev, which has been fighting Russian forces for more than two years.
Russia attacked the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least three people. Russian attacks have long targeted Kharkiv and its surrounding areas, but attacks have intensified in recent weeks, targeting civilian and energy infrastructure, according to Westerners.
The administration of Joe Biden has expressed concern about the lack of funds for Ukraine. Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that Ukraine’s survival was at stake and sought to convince US allies that they were sticking to Kiev.
U.S. officials say the lack of funding is already having an impact on the ground in the war in Ukraine, where Russian forces are advancing and Ukrainian forces must manage limited resources.
European support has become more important as Biden tries to get a major aid package for Ukraine through Congress while Washington’s foreign policy spends more energy on Israel’s war in Gaza. However, American officials say that European support for Ukraine will not be enough.
In a letter to Congress, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday extended the state of emergency and sanctions against Russia for one year due to “harmful foreign activities of the government of the Russian Federation”.
In response to this Russian action, America and Western countries have imposed extensive sanctions against Moscow and sent billions of dollars of weapons and military equipment to Kiev.