Ukraine Would Last ‘A Week’ If Western Aid Stops- Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine could not survive for more than “a week” without Western Military and financial aid, a claim made on the same day as a European Union Official warned that the bloc could not replace the funding gap if support for Kyiv from the United States dried up.
Putin made his remarks on Western funding for Ukraine as fears mount that political turmoil in Washington could jeopardise crucial military and humanitarian aid that Kyiv requires to battle Russia’s invasion.
US President Joe Biden admitted this week that he “does worry” US support for Ukraine might get derailed.
Speaking at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin said that Ukraine was being propped up “thanks to multi-billion donations that come each month”.
“If one just stops, it will all die in a week,” Putin said.
The same applies to the defence system. Just imagine the aid stops tomorrow. It will live for only a week when they run out of ammo,” he said.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine had lost more than 90,000 troops since Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian forces began in June.
At a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Spain on Thursday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said the EU could not replace the US as Kyiv’s primary donor.
“Can Europe fill the gap left by the US? Well, certainly Europe cannot replace the US,” Borrell said.
The EU and the US together comprising most NATO members are vital in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
The EU and its Member States have promised more than $100bn in multi-year support to Ukraine, including financing weapon deliveries.
Washington has committed $43bn in military assistance, while Congress has approved $113bn, which includes humanitarian aid.
However, new US funding for Ukraine has been put on hold as part of a weekend deal struck with opposition Republicans to avert a US government shutdown.
The removal by hardline Republicans of their own House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy this week has added to the uncertainty around aid for Ukraine. Some of the hardliners want US aid to Ukraine to cease.
ALJAZEERA
