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Ukraine’s top negotiator calls for more weapons


Ukrainian police officers document the destruction at one of Europe’s largest clothing markets “Barabashovo” (more than 75 hectares) in Kharkiv on May 16, 2022, which was destroyed as a result of of a shelling, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sergey Bobok | AFP | beautiful pictures

WASHINGTON – The Ukrainian negotiator leading now-stalled talks with Russian officials has called on US and NATO allies to quickly supply Kyiv with additional weapons, citing a lack of progress on the deal. mediate a peace treaty with Moscow.

“Once or twice a week we call each other and they check and ask what is going on, but both sides realize that Right now there is no room for negotiation. top negotiator.

Arakhamia, who sat down with journalists at the German Marshall Fund in Washington, DC, to share updates from his discussions with Biden administration officials and lawmakers, including the Chairman House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, says Ukraine simply needs more weapons and more sanctions on Russia.

“They stepped back and regrouped and now they’re fighting in a different way. It’s a much smarter way because the logistics are ready,” said Arakhamia.

In the weeks following the Kremlin’s late-February invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces on the ground were besieged with a variety of logistical problems on the battlefieldincluding reports of fuel and food shortages.

Mr Arakhamia added that Ukraine’s war against Russia has turned to a “combat from afar” and will therefore require a consistent supply of long-range artillery, drones, jammers and radars to against Russia’s vast arsenal of medium and long-range ballistic missiles. rocket.

“There is no area in Ukraine that is considered completely safe because they have missiles with a range that allows them to hit any target in the whole of Ukraine,” Arakhamia added.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced 1 billion USD more weapons for Ukraine, including anti-ship systems, shells and shells for artillery. Since the Kremlin invaded its former Soviet neighbor on February 24, the US has pledged $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Latest security pack, 12th time like thisoccurred as Russian forces increased their attacks in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Heavy artillery is high on the Ukrainian military’s wish list. To date, the Pentagon has transferred 126 155 mm howitzer systems from the stockpile of the US Army and US Marines to Ukrainian forces. Along with artillery, the US also sent about 260,000 shells.

The Pentagon also recently committed to the High Mobility Artillery Missile System, or HMARS, produced by the defense giant. Lockheed Martin. HMARS is designed to fire a variety of missiles from a mobile 5 ton truck.

Members of the Ukrainian army fire a shell from an M777 howitzer near the front lines, as Russia’s offensive on Ukraine continues, in the Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 6, 2022.

Stringer | Reuters

Arakhamia said that Ukrainian forces are rapidly running out of ammunition and shells for heavy artillery batteries supplied by the US.

“The delivery of 150,000 rounds is considered a very large shipment just one month of the war,” he said, adding that “when the fighting was fierce, we could use up to half a million. bullets per month”.

Arakhamia said that after large shipments of ammunition and artillery, some NATO allies are not ready to resupply and move to Ukraine.

“They want to defend their country, which is understandable to us, given the threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand the war in Ukraine to Europe,” he said.

“The world is not ready for a war of this scale,” Arakhamia added.



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