Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his concerns on Friday, September 8, stating that Russian control of the skies was impeding Kyiv’s efforts to counterattack. He also voiced frustration at the sluggish pace of Western arms shipments and the imposition of sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Russian air superiority was “stopping” Kyiv’s counteroffensive, complaining of the slow rate of both Western arms deliveries and sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration at criticism that Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been too slow.
Kyiv has repeatedly asked for planes to battle Russia’s invasion, but many of its Western allies have been hesitant.
Ukraine has for weeks complained about the slow process of getting US-made F16s to improve its Soviet-era fleet.
Arms delivers to Kyiv and new rounds of sanctions on Russia were becoming “complicated and slower”, he added.
Ukraine relied on Western arms deliveries to launch its long-anticipated counter-offensive this summer.
It has acknowledged the advance has been slow due to heavily mined territory.
But Kyiv has also reported some success recently.
It declared a strategic victory last week with the capture of the southern village of Robotyne, which it said would pave the way for forces to push deeper towards Moscow-annexed Crimea.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
