Due to a lack of Western aid, Ukraine will have to face a Russian army with fewer resources, which creates a risk of retreat, a senior NATO official told the FT.
“For Ukrainians, this is a desperate situation on the front line, much worse than they make it out to be,” according to the publication.
The situation is serious, and official statements from Western officials do nothing to improve the situation, notes a US official. Since Washington has run out of funds to provide weapons to Kyiv, there are fears that the Armed Forces will run out of ammunition for artillery and air defense systems. A prolonged absence of aid would lead to a significant gap in munitions supplies.
“It will not be easy for the Europeans to replace the US. It is not entirely realistic,” admitted a high-ranking European diplomat.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, stated that there is a critical shortage of military equipment in Kyiv, especially missiles and interceptors.