Ukraine will not counter-attack without Western arms support: Zelensky

International Desk:Russia has been invading Ukraine for more than 13 months. Ukraine is fighting the long-running Russian aggression with Western-backed weapons. Even the counter-attacks of this Eastern European country, the Russian army has faced failure many times. However, now there is concern about this counter-attack by Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that Kiev will not retaliate unless it receives Western weapons. British media BBC reported this information in a report on Sunday (March 26). President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia cannot be launched until Western allies send more military aid, the report said. He told a Japanese newspaper that he would not send his troops to the frontline without more tanks, artillery and Hummers rocket launchers. The BBC says

There, he said, the situation in eastern Ukraine is 'not good'. In his words, 'We are waiting for the ammunition to arrive from our partners.' Asked about Ukraine's expected counterattack against Russia, President Zelensky said: 'We haven't started the counterattack yet. We cannot send our brave soldiers to the frontline without tanks, artillery and long-range rockets.'He added: 'If you have the political will, you will find a way and help us. We are at war and can't wait (for anything).'The BBC says there have been talks for weeks about Ukraine launching a counter-offensive against Russian forces. Ukrainian commanders have indicated that an attack on Kiev may be imminent. Oleksandr Sirsky, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said, It could be seen 'very early' this week. On the other hand, some analysts say that the Ukrainian military is planning a counterattack to make its Russian counterpart uncomfortable.

They want Russian commanders to spread their forces across the entire frontline to prepare for any attack, instead of concentrating their forces in specific locations like the eastern city of Bakhmut. Other analysts believe that a counterattack from Ukraine is possible soon. The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, indicated last week that Russia's own offensive is potentially losing momentum and reaching a dead end: 'So Ukraine is well-positioned to take any action and counterattack in key sectors.' But in the case of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems more pessimistic.

He has often warned recently that the war could drag on for years unless Western allies quickly deliver more weapons. But this is the first time he has actually said that Ukraine's counteroffensive may be delayed, and that too by a lack of Western equipment. However, Ukraine's allies have pledged more tanks, artillery and long-range missile systems to counter Russian aggression. But some countries are actually struggling to deliver their promised weapons. And other countries are taking longer than expected to send military equipment to Ukraine.

Western officials say military aid Ukraine must receive. But they also admit that training and planning takes time. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has called for such speculation about a counter-attack against Ukraine - especially when and where the counter-attack might take place - to stop discussing possible plans. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malier claimed on social media that only three people have the right to reveal Ukraine's military plans. They are the President, the Defense Minister and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He wrote, 'All others can only quote their statements. Please stop asking experts about air strikes, please stop writing blogs and posts about it, please stop discussing our army's military plans in public.'

 

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