Zelensky: The promised foreign military aid to equip 14 new brigades was not enough for even four

The military aid promised by Western partners to equip 14 new brigades was not enough to fully equip four.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this to CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria.

According to the President, despite the promises of Western partners to provide sufficient military aid, its delivery is very slow.

This pace of supply makes it impossible to equip new brigades in a short time to help the Ukrainian Defense Forces effectively defend Ukrainian territories.

“There are many reasons. First, it is happening rather slowly. Secondly, we need to equip 14 brigades – we still don’t have it. Out of this package, we have not equipped even four brigades… Therefore, we need to produce drones domestically. It is not enough, but we have done it,” the President said.

Zelensky also noted that while the U.S. Congress had been trying to pass a $61 billion military aid package, the Ukrainian Defense Forces had been using everything they had could to defend themselves.

“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. We took everything they had – all their weapons,” the President added.

It should be noted that, despite constant talk from the U.S. government, it is impossible to organize permanent military assistance that would allow Ukraine to build up its military capabilities.

Militarnyi previously reported that without the support of allies, the Netherlands would transfer only its own part of the Patriot battery to Ukraine.

In late May, the Dutch government announced its intention to cooperate with allies to form a joint battery of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, which would be transferred to Ukraine.

The government then agreed to provide three launchers and an AN/MPQ-53 radar system for the project. Other countries would have to provide a control center, additional launchers, and support equipment.

However, three months after this announcement, none of the allied countries joined the project, so the Netherlands decided to provide dedicated elements of the system without completing the formation of a separate SAM battery.