Stoltenberg says “it’s not too late” for Ukraine to win the war. Zelensky calls for speeding up arms deliveries

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, on a visit to Kiev, assured on Monday that “it is not too late for Ukraine to win” against Russia, despite its army’s recent setbacks at the front, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on the need to speed up arms deliveries, AFP and Reuters report.

“Important delays in support have serious consequences on the battlefield,” Stoltenberg admitted, referring to the considerable delay in American and European military aid.

“But it is not too late for Ukraine to win”, said the head of NATO, assuring that “more help is on the way” and that new announcements in this regard are expected “soon”.

Stoltenberg appealed to the allies to establish “a major and multi-year financial commitment (…) to demonstrate that our support for Ukraine is not short-term”.

“Moscow must understand that it cannot win,” said the head of the North Atlantic Alliance, according to sources cited by Agerpres.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that vital American weapons are beginning to arrive in Ukraine in small quantities and that the process must be accelerated because Russian forces are trying to take advantage of the situation.

Zelensky said at the joint press conference that the situation on the battlefield directly depends on the speed of ammunition supply to Ukraine.

“Quick support for our military. Today I don’t see anything positive on this point yet. There are supplies, they have started a little, this process must be accelerated”, he said.

The US recently passed a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, ending a months-long blockade and giving Kiev hope that its near-depleted artillery stockpile will be refueled.

“Together, we can make the Russian offensive fail,” Zelenskiy said, referring to a new large-scale offensive that Moscow is preparing, noting that Russia is “trying to take advantage” of the delay in Western aid.

“Artillery, (munitions) of 155 mm caliber, long-range weapons and air defense, mainly Patriot systems. It is what our partners have and what should work now in Ukraine to destroy Russia’s terrorist ambitions,” said the Ukrainian head of state.

After the failure of its counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, Ukraine is on the defensive. Russia has taken the initiative and is gaining ground in the East, despite heavy losses since the beginning of the year, in front of a Ukrainian army that lacks ammunition in particular.

In recent days, Moscow has claimed the conquest of several villages. On Monday, the Russian army announced that it had occupied Semenivka, and the day before Novobahmutivka.

On Sunday, the head of the Ukrainian General Staff, Oleksandr Sîrski, admitted that the situation on the front “deteriorated”, the Russian troops, superior in terms of weaponry and number of troops, achieving “tactical successes” in several areas.

According to him, the Russian army “concentrated its efforts in several sectors, thus creating a significant advantage in terms of forces and means”, in order to “try to take the strategic initiative and break through the front line”.

Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kirilo Budanov predicted last week that the situation would worsen in mid-May and early June, which would be a “difficult period” for Ukraine.

Editor: Liviu Cojan

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