Ukraine running out of missiles to fight Russia: Zelensky

Ukraine says the Western camp is not giving Kiev enough of its missiles to defeat Russia.

The Western-backed President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a PBS interview published on Tuesday that a lack of missiles prevented Ukrainians from stopping a Russian attack that destroyed the biggest power plant in the region around Kiev.

The Trypilska Power Plant, a 1,800-MW thermal power station located on the Dnipro River about 40 kilometers downstream of Kiev, had been built by the Soviet Union in 1969 and completed in 1977.

“There were 11 missiles flying. We destroyed the first seven, and four (remaining) destroyed Trypillia. Why? Because there were zero missiles. We ran out of missiles to defend Trypillia,” Zelenskiy said.

Zelensky has repeatedly complained about Kiev's critical shortage of arms, munitions and manpower against the bigger and stronger Russian troops. 

“I can tell you, frankly, without this support, we will have no chance of winning,” he told the PBS reporter.

The Ukrainian president claimed the Western allies had stocked all the arsenal Kiev needed, accusing them of creating an “artificial deficit.”

Ukraine's Zelensky criticizes West over 'artificial deficit of weapons'

Ukraine

In the meantime, Kiev’s Western backers say they have drained their stockpiles of arms and munitions.

They say despite their all-out support to Kiev since early 2022, Ukrainian forces have failed to gain any significant victory against the Russian troops on the battlefield.

In related news, US House Speaker Mike Johnson pledged to push forward the long-delayed Ukraine aid bill sought by President Joe Biden, as Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress remain deadlocked over further foreign military assistance.

The $95-billion package was passed by the Senate in February, with a focus on providing substantial aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, while it also includes more aid for Israel and Chinese Taipei – also known as Taiwan.

In a post on X, Johnson outlined the intention to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine, along with support for allies in the Indo-Pacific, and detailed plans for strengthening national security through countermeasures against “adversaries.”

“There are precipitating events around the globe that we’re all watching very carefully,” Johnson told reporters after a GOP conference meeting Monday evening. “And we know that the world is watching us to see how we react.”

Zelensky said last week, “If Congress does not help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war.”

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