Ukrainian army chief Valery Zalushny says he needs 300 main battle tanks, 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to win the war.
Russia has warned the US not to send “Patriot” anti-aircraft weapons to Ukraine.
The EU is launching new Russia sanctions.
Ukrainian army chief explains what he needs to defeat Russia
The Ukrainian supreme commander, Valeriy Zalushnyi, also requested new weapons for a victory over the Russian army. “I need 300 main battle tanks, 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers,” said the 49-year-old in an interview with the British magazine “The Economist”.
This would make it possible to push the Russian troops back to the positions before the invasion on February 24, said Zalushny. However, he is currently receiving less funding than he needs. Larger operations are thus impossible, but a new one is being worked out. “She’s on her way,” the general assured.
At the same time, Zalushnyj expects a new major Russian offensive in the coming year. “In the worst case, at the end of January,” he said. The Russians would train around 200,000 fresh soldiers for this. The Ukrainian army, for its part, is also preparing its own reserves for this purpose. He cannot yet say whether the offensive will begin in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass, in the south, or from the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus to the north, aimed directly at Kyiv. Nevertheless, sooner or later the Ukrainian capital will be a target again. “I have no doubt that they will attack Kyiv again,” Zalushnyi said.
Russia warns US against delivering Patriot missiles
Russia once again warned the United States against supplying “Patriot” anti-aircraft weapons to Ukraine. If such reports are confirmed, it would be “another provocative step” by the United States, State Department spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in Moscow on Thursday.
The USA would thus allow itself to be drawn deeper and deeper into the conflict – “with all the consequences that ensue”. Zakharova also announced that “Patriot” missiles would be targeted by the Russian army as a priority target.
EU countries launch new sanctions package against Russia
The 27 member states of the European Union have launched a ninth package of sanctions against Russia. On the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday evening, the Permanent Representatives Committee unanimously approved plans that include new punitive measures against Russian banks and additional trade restrictions.
A day-long dispute about possible undesirable side effects of sanctions had previously been settled. Together with countries such as France and the Netherlands, Germany had called for certain rules to be changed as part of the new sanctions package in order to avoid disrupting trade in agricultural products and fertilizers.
Price cap for gas is coming
After months of dispute, the EU also wants to make its decision on a European gas price cap next week. At the summit in Brussels, the heads of state and government agreed that work on this would be completed at a meeting of energy ministers this Monday. At the beginning of the week, Germany in particular held up an agreement due to concerns about security of supply.
Zelenskyy: Red Cross worker killed in Kherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of killing a volunteer worker at a Red Cross station in the shelling of the city of Kherson. “The woman who died was a paramedic, a volunteer,” said the head of state in a video address on Thursday evening. The recently liberated port city in southern Ukraine was shot at 16 times by the Russian side on Thursday alone.
In addition, the northern Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv has again become the target of Russian artillery attacks, while fighting continues in Donbass. “The occupiers throw everything and everyone on the offensive. You cannot defeat our army. So they physically destroy every city and village so that there are no buildings, not even walls, that can be used for any kind of defense,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyj renewed call for arms assistance
Zelenskyj urgently called on the EU states to supply modern tanks and anti-aircraft defenses for the defense against Russia. In a video address at the Brussels summit on Thursday, he also asked leaders for large-scale gas and electricity supplies to compensate for the destruction of infrastructure by Russian attacks.
“I ask you to show leadership,” Zelenskyj said. “The one who will be the first to deliver modern tanks will open up the possibility of supplies from all over the world and will be remembered as one of the greatest defenders of freedom of our time.” There is no rational reason why Ukraine cannot deliver the tanks at this time should get. The same applies to long-range artillery and missile systems, which could hasten the end of Russian aggression. “All of this would mean a direct saving of millions of lives.”
Also Read: The December 15 Ukraine Update
