Ukrainian troops are suffering high losses due to the too slow arrival of Western weapons to are equipping our armed forces properly, said President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with CNN, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Russia is gaining ground in some parts of eastern Ukraine, including around Pokrovsk. Seizing the transport hub could enable Moscow to open up new lines of attack.
Zelensky pointed out that the situation in the eastern part of the country is "very difficult", adding that half of the Ukrainian brigades there are not equipped.
"That's why you lose a lot of people. You lose people because they don't have armed vehicles... they don't have artillery, they don't have artillery shells," Zelensky said, speaking in English. CNN reported that the interview was conducted on Friday.
Zelensky also said the weapons promised by the US and European countries are arriving very slowly.
"We need 14 brigades to be ready. So far... we haven't even equipped four of these packages [with arms shipments]," he said.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said yesterday that Washington was working on a "significant" new aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky is due to meet US President Joe Biden this month and will present a plan to end the war. The main elements are security and diplomatic support, as well as military and economic assistance, noted the Ukrainian leader.
The only thing Russian President Vladimir Putin fears is the reaction of his people if the price of war makes them suffer, Zelensky said. "Make Ukraine strong and you will see that he will sit down and negotiate".
Zelensky will also repeat to Biden demands for Ukraine to be allowed to use American long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, adds Reuters.