Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Ukraine’s 14 brigades are under-equipped, lacking weapons promised earlier by allies

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy discloses that 14 Ukrainian brigades are under-equipped, lacking promised weapons from allies, which delays potential counteroffensive operations against Russian forces.
president ukraine volodymyr zelenskyy during his interview bloomberg july 2024 screenshot youtube/zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his interview with Bloomberg. July 2024. Screenshot: Youtube/Zelenskyy President.
Ukraine’s 14 brigades are under-equipped, lacking weapons promised earlier by allies

In an interview with Bloomberg, shared on YouTube by his office on 4 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that 14 military brigades are currently under-equipped, lacking the necessary weapons to launch any significant counteroffensive against Russian forces.

As the all-out Russo-Ukrainian war enters its third summer, Zelenskyy addressed the challenges facing Ukraine’s military and their impact on strategic planning. He emphasized that the current situation is not a stalemate, as media suggests, but rather a “problematic situation” that can be resolved with proper tools and determination.

“We have brigades standing without weapons, we have reserves standing, we have 14 brigades that are not fully equipped, which do not have the appropriate weapons,” Zelenskyy stated. He added that while promised weapon packages have been voted on and discussed, they are arriving “unfortunately, slowly.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that launching any counteroffensive without proper equipment is not feasible.

“We want appropriate counteroffensive actions when we are ready. We are ready when weapons arrive. Today there are none,” he said.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the support from Congress but highlighted the need for faster implementation of aid decisions. He pointed out that the lengthy delays between decisions to support Ukraine and the actual arrival of weapons often allow Russian forces to anticipate Ukrainian moves, making counteroffensives more difficult and time-consuming.

Addressing the timeline for a potential counteroffensive, Zelenskyy said it would happen “immediately when we have all the equipment that Congress voted for and that European leaders supported.” However, he noted that the schedule remains uncertain due to the prolonged weapon delivery process.

Ceasefires

Commenting on a ceasefire, proposed by Hungarian Prime Minister VIktor Orbán during his recent visit to Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he remains skeptical about simple ceasefire agreements. Zelenskyy sees a ceasefire with Russia as complex and precarious, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and trustworthy plan to ensure any cessation of hostilities is effective and enduring.

Ukraine rejects Orban’s ceasefire proposal during Kyiv talks

Zelenskyy stressed that it is important to consider what steps follow a ceasefire, and international oversight is necessary to prevent Russia from exploiting a ceasefire to strengthen its military position. Moreover, he underscores the ongoing lack of accountability for ceasefires with Russia that have failed in the past.

Trump

Earlier, former US President Donald Trump repeatedly boasted he could end the Russo-Ukrainian war within 24 hours if re-elected. He reportedly claimed he would have bombed Moscow had Russia invaded Ukraine during his presidency at a campaign event. However, Politico reported that Trump is considering a deal with Putin to freeze NATO expansion and allow Russia to keep some Ukrainian territories.

Now, in the interview with Bloomberg, President Zelenskyy expressed a willingness to meet with Donald Trump to discuss his potential strategies for ending the war in Ukraine, underscoring the necessity of understanding the US’s support level before the upcoming US presidential elections.

Because if there are risks to our independence, risks that we will lose statehood, then we want to prepare for this. We want to understand whether in November we will have strong support from the United States or we will be alone,” he said.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts