Zelensky claims that there are serious issues with promised Western military aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that his Western partners and allies had pledged to supply enough military equipment to outfit more than a dozen new brigades for Ukraine. However, a significant portion of the promised equipment has yet to be delivered.

While speaking with CNN reporter Fareed Zakaria during a September 15th interview, Zelensky revealed that despite promises from Western countries, the equipment that Ukraine needed to supply fourteen brigades had yet to arrive. 

Zakaria began the interview by asking Zelensky about Ukraine's invasion of Kursk and whether or not it had worked, pointing out that some were worried stripping the eastern frontline was more fragile after moving troops to Kursk. 

Zelensky responded by explaining that it didn’t matter how many brigades were on the eastern frontline if they were underequipped, so Ukraine risked attacking Kursk in order to force Russia to move troops away from the eastern frontlines. 

Zelensky’s answer prompted Zakaria to ask Zelensky about Ukraine's equipment and munitions issues, which led to Zelensky explaining the reality of the equipment issues that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently facing. 

Ukraine only has enough munitions to supply four brigades rather than the fourteen it hoped to equip, a problem that the Ukrainian President explained to Zakaria when he inquired about Ukraine’s munition issues and the reasons behind them. 

“There are many reasons. First, it is happening rather slowly. Secondly, we need to equip 14 brigades – we still don’t have it,” Zelensky explained according to a quote of his comments from the Ukrainian military website Miltiarnnyi 

“Out of this package, we have not equipped even four brigades,” Zelensky continued, referencing the $61 billion dollar US aid package. He went on to explain the problems Ukraine has faced and how a lack of US aid contributed to Kyiv’s current dilemma. 

Zelensky explained that equipping fourteen brigades with weapons and supplies that were provided by its allies was too much for them, which was why Ukraine turned to its interior production of drones to fill the gaps created by its lack of resources.

Ukraine’s munition problem was caused by the eight-month period in which Ukraine was not receiving any military aid from the United States as Congress sorted out the passing of the $61 billion in defense abstinence for Kyiv Biden had requested in October 2023.

“During the 8-month pause that preceded the positive decision of the US Congress, we used everything we could. We transferred everything that was in the stockpiles – in warehouses and in reserve brigades that we needed,” Zelensky said. 

“We took everything they had – all their weapons,” Zelensky continued, implying that Ukraine used up all of its munition stocks while it was waiting for the United States to decide on approving more military assistance. 

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