The top US general in Europe told Congress on Wednesday that Ukraine will run out of artillery shells and air defense interceptors “in reasonably short order” without US support, leaving it vulnerable to defeat. partial or total.
In a sign of how scarce some weapons were, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of European Command, told the House Armed Services Committee that Russia was firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces and that the disparity could widen in next few weeks to 10 to 1.
“If one side can shoot and the other can't shoot back, the side that can't shoot back loses. So there is a lot at stake,” said Cavoli.
“They are really dependent on us this year, Mr. President. And without our support, they will not be able to prevail,” he added.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to vote on a bill that would provide an additional $60 billion to Ukraine. The White House is scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Kiev, which has been fighting Russian forces for more than two years.
Some lawmakers have expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress on funding for Ukraine, a measure already approved by the Senate.
During the hearing, Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said Johnson must make a tough choice, even at the risk of being out of work.
“That’s what leadership is,” Slotkin said.
Russian airstrikes in the northeastern region of Kharkov on Wednesday afternoon hit a clinic and a pharmacy, killing at least three people.
Russian attacks have long targeted Kharkiv and the surrounding region, but attacks have become more intense in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure.
President Joe Biden's administration has expressed concern about the lack of funding for Ukraine. Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that Ukraine's survival was in danger and sought to convince allies that the US was committed to Kiev.
Officials say the lack of available funding is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine, where Russian troops are advancing and Ukrainian forces are having to manage limited resources.
European support has become more important as Biden struggles to get a major aid package for Ukraine through Congress while devoting more foreign policy energy to the war in Gaza.
However, US officials say European support for Ukraine will not be enough. On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced that it had transferred to Ukraine thousands of infantry weapons and more than 500,000 rounds of ammunition that were seized more than a year ago from an Iranian shipment to Houthi forces in Yemen.
Source: CNN Brasil
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