"Not enough weapons" – Zelensky blames West for weakness of counteroffensive

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has stated that he wanted to launch the Ukrainian counteroffensive much earlier. But his army needed more weapons for this. Now the counteroffensive is slowing down due to difficulties on the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has justified the failures of the Ukrainian counteroffensive with slow arms deliveries from the West. According to him, he wanted Western arms supplies to have allowed the start of the counteroffensive "much earlier." This was stated by the Ukrainian leader in an interview with CNN, which was published on Wednesday.

Zelensky revealed that he had told US and European leaders that Ukraine wanted to launch its counteroffensive earlier, but needed more weapons to do so. Currently, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is being slowed down due to difficulties on the battlefield. Zelensky continued:

"I wanted our counteroffensive to have started much earlier, because everyone understood that if the counteroffensive starts later, a larger part of our territory will be mined. We are giving our enemy the time and opportunity to lay more mines and prepare his defensive lines."

Furthermore, the Ukrainian president did not miss the opportunity to demand further arms deliveries from the West during the interview. According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian counteroffensive could be accelerated if Ukraine had more long-range artillery and missiles. These would provide the Ukrainian army with the opportunity to launch a counteroffensive on some sectors of the front, he said. Until then, the situation with regard to possible counteroffensives is as follows:

"On some sectors of the front, we can't even think about starting them, since we don't have the appropriate weapons."

Furthermore, the Ukrainian army needs US F-16 fighter jets to balance the forces with the Russian armed forces. With regard to the air forces, there could be no question of superiority over the Russian air force.

"It's not even about Ukraine's air advantage over the Russians.
It's all about being the same. F-16s help to advance not only on the battlefield. Without cover from the air, it's just very difficult."

Zelensky also commented on another issue. When asked whether people from Donbass, which is part of the Russian Federation, deserve forgiveness, he said:

"Time heals, but so does justice. I am convinced that there should be judgments."

He believes that those who have involuntarily opposed the Ukrainian Armed Forces should also be persecuted.

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