President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated the need to accelerate the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine as part of the $61 billion support package approved by the US Congress in April this year.
“It is very important that this (the decision of the Congress to help Ukraine – IF-U) was adopted. It is a weapon for us, it is an important signal for Russia. And it is important that it was a united positive decision within the United States. But I believe that not much of this amount has come today. This is my personal opinion. But I can’t staff the brigades, the reserves, just to change the brigades that are standing, so that there is a normal rotation,” Zelensky said in an interview with The Guardian published on Saturday.
Thus, he said, “Russia clearly understands this – what they are doing with Kharkiv and why they are going north and looking in that direction – to stretch the front.”
“They know that we have an understaffed reserve, they know that we cannot send a reserve without the appropriate weapons – the way they send theirs like meat. They understand that our troops in the east, and the Russian Federation does not abandon its main goal of occupying the entire east of our country, need to stretch our forces. They are stretching our front and understand that if enough (weapons – IF-U) came, we would staff the brigades, we would not withdraw our forces from Donbas and could respond with our long-range (to shelling – IF-U) of Kharkiv region,” the president said.
At the same time, Zelensky emphasized, no one is blaming anyone. “We are where we are. We are at war. And not at the beginning of it. And so we need to look for a way out of the situation every day.”
He also noted that, in general, the amount allocated by Congress is large enough to equip Ukrainian brigades easily and quickly, but, in his opinion, it is coming slowly.
“And everyone is happy, everyone is happy that they managed (to agree on the aid to Ukraine – IF-U), that everyone put pressure on the US together, bipartisan support, 61 billion – and it is just beginning to be transferred to us, coming to us. But Russia is faster. Russia is slower than Ukraine, but faster than the West. And this is a problem. And if every minute can take away people’s lives, then we want faster deliveries (from the US – IF-U). It’s just that the price of this is more painful for us than for our partner countries. Because no one in their families died. And thank God! But you don’t know what war is until it comes to your home,” Zelensky emphasized.
He also emphasized that “this speed is constantly lacking in the West, in our partners,” adding that this could be due to various reasons, including bureaucratic ones or “a different approach to life in non-war time.”
“In war, you have other priorities: survival, people, children – this is the main thing. And when you’re safe, you get used to it, and that’s why your time goes differently. You don’t need to survive now, because the next second you might be killed. For example, you are in Kharkiv, and if you don’t go down to the bomb shelter – and their (Russian – IF-U) weapons are 60 km, 100 km away – and you don’t go down, you could be dead,” Zelensky summarized.
Sweden will provide Ukraine with the 16th and largest military aid package since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Swedish government’s website reports.
It is noted that the new capabilities will strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. The aid package amounts to 13.3 billion Swedish kronor ($1.3 billion) and meets Ukraine’s priority needs.
Sweden is providing radar reconnaissance and control aircraft (ASC 890) to Ukraine, thereby strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Sweden is transferring the entire Swedish fleet of Pansarbandvagn 302 (Pbv 302) to support the creation of new brigades in the Ukrainian army. Sweden will also send artillery ammunition and resources to maintain previously donated equipment.
Since Russia’s brutal offensive war, Sweden has allocated 43.5 billion kronor for military support to Ukraine.
The 16th military support package also includes: financial support for coalitions of capabilities; financial support for funds and initiatives that allow for the rapid and large-scale procurement of equipment for Ukraine. The Swedish Defense Research Agency will also be tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own defense research institute.
As part of this package, the capabilities of Ukraine’s combat command are further strengthened by the transfer of terminals with satellite communications subscriptions.
Spain will provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military aid in 2024 and another €5 billion within 3 years
As part of a bilateral security agreement, Spain will provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military aid in 2024 and €5 billion over three years, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
“…Under the agreement, Spain will provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military aid already this year and €5 billion over three years. The countries have also agreed to provide assistance in economic recovery, support Ukrainian reforms on the way to membership in the EU and NATO and the Formula for Peace, as well as strengthening sanctions against Russia,” the ministry said in a statement published in its Telegram channel on Monday.
As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signed in Madrid a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of security.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Australia, Richard Marles, has announced another $100 million package of military assistance to Ukraine.
“Australia will stay with Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to win this war. To this end, we are today announcing another $100 million package of assistance to Ukraine. $50 million of this amount will be spent on short-range air defense systems, another $30 million will be spent on the purchase of drones, as Australia is part of the Drone Coalition with the UK and Latvia. The remainder will be used to purchase support equipment, from inflatable boats to helmets and boots,” Marles said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Lviv on Saturday.
He added that Australia was also able to provide Ukraine with air-to-ground munitions.
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Defense of Australia Richard Marles announced another package of military aid to Ukraine from Australia in 100 million dollars.
“Australia will stay with Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to win this war. To that end, we are today announcing the next $100 million dollar aid package to Ukraine. 50 million of this will be for short-range air defense systems. Another 30 million will be for drones, as Australia is part of a drone coalition with the UK and Latvia. The remainder of the amount will be used to purchase support equipment, from inflatable boats to helmets and boots,” Marles told a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal in Lviv on Saturday.
He also added that Australia had been able to provide Ukraine with air-to-ground munitions.
“We understand that this conflict will be very long and we will provide more in the future because we are determined to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary,” the minister stressed.
As Shmygal wrote in Telegram, in total, Australia’s support for Ukraine already amounts to more than $655 million, of which $540 million is specifically military aid.
“We very much appreciate such solidarity of the Australian people with Ukraine. Thank you Mr. Richard Marles for deep involvement in Ukrainian affairs, for effective solidarity, for the concrete things that Australia is doing for Ukraine,” wrote Shmygal.
European Council President Charles Michel assures that concrete steps to use the proceeds from frozen Russian assets will be taken very quickly so that the first 1 billion euros will be allocated to Ukraine, including for military aid, as early as July 1 this year.
“We have taken a very important decision by making it possible to postpone unexpected revenues – and this is a proposal from the European Commission – and we are determined to act very quickly so that we can take some of this money to support Ukraine, including the possibility of (supporting) military equipment. This demonstrates that the 27 leaders who were around the table understand the gravity of the situation,” he said Thursday in Brussels at a news conference after the European Council meeting.
Michel is convinced that the necessary steps to make the mechanism work will be taken “very quickly”. “These proposals were presented by the Commission yesterday. There is considerable support in the European Council for this approach,” the European Council president said.
According to Michel, the Belgian presidency confirmed that it too “intends to work with all colleagues very quickly”. “This is really very important because there will be more opportunity to support Ukraine with military equipment, with what is urgently needed,” he emphasized.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in turn, said she was pleased that the leaders had approved the use of emergency revenues from immobilized Russian assets. “This will provide funding to supply Ukraine with military equipment. We can expect to be able to raise €3 billion in 2024 and a similar amount in future years… There is strong support to use the windfall revenues from immobilized assets for military support to Ukraine. I told the leaders that if we act quickly to finalize our proposals, we can disburse 1 billion as early as July 1. The assets are in our hands and if we are quick, there will be concrete actions in the summer,” she explained.
CHARLES MICHEL, EUROPEAN COUNCIL, MILITARY AID, RUSSIAN ASSETS, UKRAINE
