Sun Sep 15 15:28:54 UTC 2024: ## Ukrainian Troops Suffer Heavy Losses Due to Slow Western Arms Deliveries: Zelensky

**Kyiv, Ukraine** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed deep concern over the slow pace of Western arms deliveries, blaming it for heavy troop losses in the ongoing war with Russia. In an interview with CNN, Zelensky described the situation in eastern Ukraine as “very tough,” stating that half of Ukraine’s brigades are inadequately equipped, resulting in significant casualties.

“You lose a lot of people… they are not in armed vehicles… they don’t have artillery, they don’t have artillery rounds,” Zelensky lamented, highlighting the critical need for heavier weaponry.

Despite promises of aid packages from the United States and Europe, Zelensky stated that the deliveries are arriving too slowly. “We need 14 brigades to be ready,” he said, “Until now… from these packages we didn’t equip even four.”

The White House has acknowledged the need for increased support and is working on a new substantial aid package for Ukraine. President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden this month, where he will present a plan to end the war, focused on security and diplomatic support, as well as military and economic aid.

Zelensky also emphasized the importance of empowering Ukraine against Russia, highlighting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is primarily concerned with the reaction of his own people to the economic and social consequences of the war.

“Make Ukraine strong, and you will see that he will sit and negotiate,” Zelensky stated.

Zelensky will reiterate to Biden his demands for Ukraine to be granted permission to use U.S. long-range weapons to strike military targets deep inside Russia. This request is based on the observation that Russian jets attacking infrastructure have begun operating up to 500 km from the front lines, compared to 150 km earlier.

The slow delivery of promised weaponry has become a major concern for Ukrainian officials, who argue that it is hampering their ability to defend against the Russian advance and is contributing to the heavy losses suffered by their troops.

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