Ukraine will run out of artillery shells and air defense interceptors "relatively soon" without US support, which would make it vulnerable to partial or total defeat. This was warned by the commander of NATO forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, quoted by "Reuters".
As an example of how scarce some weapons are, he told the US House Armed Services Committee that Russia currently fires five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces, and in the coming weeks that disparity could grow up to ten projectiles against one.
"If one side can shoot and the other can't fire back, then the side that can't fire back loses. So the stakes are very high," Cavoli was emphatic.
"This year they are really depending on us. And without our support, they won't be able to prevail," he told Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnson refuses to call a vote on a bill that would provide another $60 billion to Ukraine. The White House is scrambling to find a way to send aid to Kiev, which has been battling Russian forces for more than two years.
President Joe Biden's administration has expressed concern about the lack of funding for Ukraine. Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that Ukraine's survival was at risk and tried to convince allies that the US was committed to Kiev.
Officials note that the lack of available funding is already having an impact on the front in Ukraine, where Russian troops are advancing and Ukrainian forces must manage limited resources.
European support has become more important as Biden struggles to get a major aid package for Ukraine through Congress while devoting more foreign policy energy to the war in Gaza. Still, American officials point out that European support for Ukraine will not be enough.