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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the West for what he described as an "artificial deficit of weapons".

Zelensky, on Saturday, warned Kiev's US-led Western allies that "keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war.”

Zelensky, who signed separate 10-year bilateral security agreements with France and Germany on Friday, urged Kiev's allies to increase their shipments of military supplies amid ammunition shortages and the recent withdrawal from the embattled city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

He said the Kiev forces were forced to withdraw from the heavily battered city for fear of death as the Russian troops were encircling it.

Since Russia launched its special military operation in Donbas in February 2022, Zelensky has been making efforts to shore up more and more support from Kiev's allies.

Ukraine says 'fierce' fighting underway with Russian troops in Avdiivka

Ukraine says fierce fighting is raging for the frontline city of Avdiivka that has become a main target for Russia ahead of the second anniversary of its special military operation.

Kiev sees its increased shortage of weapons and munition linked to the far-right Republicans in US Congress who see the Ukraine war as a failed effort and want the White House to stop asking for more military shipments to Kiev.

If "Ukraine is left alone, Russia will destroy us," the president said in a CNN interview after his speech at the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Bayerischer Hof hotel in Munich, Germany.

In the interview, Zelensky was also asked about the potential return of former US President Donald Trump to the White House. He said that Trump had been invited to Ukraine. "If Trump (comes) to Ukraine, I am ready to go with him to the front line."

Ukraine could ‘drop us like a dog’, Trump warns

Former US president Donald Trump warns against Washington’s continued support for Ukraine, saying Kiev has the potential to “drop us like a dog.”

Zelensky said last month that Trump would be warmly received in Kiev under one condition: the former US president must demonstrate his ability to end the war with Russia within 24 hours, as he has promised.

Trump has said repeatedly his primary goal regarding the war would be to secure a ceasefire in 24 hours, but he has not specified on what terms it would potentially be.

Meanwhile, the Europeans have appealed to the US Congress in recent days to approve a package that includes aid for Ukraine, a $60 billion allotment that would go largely to US defense entities to manufacture missiles, munitions, and other military hardware that are being sent to the battlefields in Ukraine.

The package faces resistance from far-right House Republicans.

Trump has rallied against continued support for Ukraine, citing the NATO-led proxy war against Russia as a liability for Washington as Kiev has the potential to “drop us like a dog.”

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