Putin’s prediction comes amid political turmoil in Washington and amid growing concerns about the future of U.S. funding to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine could not survive for more than “a week” without Western military and financial aid, a claim echoed on the same day by European Union officials who said that if there was support for Kiev, EU warned that it would not be able to make up for the funding gap. America has dried up.
President Putin is Statements regarding Western countries’ funding to Ukraine There are growing concerns that the political turmoil in Washington could jeopardize vital military and humanitarian aid Kiev needs to fight Russian aggression.US President Joe Biden admitted this week that he was “concerned” US aid to Ukraine may be derailed.
Lecture on Thursday Valdai discussion club meetingSpeaking at the Moscow-based think tank in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin said Ukraine was supported “thanks to billions of donations that arrive every month.”
“If anyone stops, within a week everyone will be dead,” Putin said.
“The same goes for the defense system. Imagine if the aid stops tomorrow. You’ll only survive for a week if you run out of ammunition,” he said.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine has lost more than 90,000 troops since the counteroffensive against Russian forces in Kiev began in June.
Speaking 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 Kiev’s main donor.
“Can Europe fill the void left by the United States? Certainly, Europe cannot replace the United States,” Borrell said.
The EU and the US, which make up the majority of NATO members, are crucial in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. The EU and its member states have pledged more than $100 billion in multi-year assistance to Ukraine, including funding for arms deliveries. Washington promised $43 billion in military aid, but Congress approved $113 billion, including humanitarian aid.
But new U.S. funding for Ukraine is on hold as part of a deal struck over the weekend with opposition Republicans to avert a U.S. government shutdown.
Self-removal by hardline Republicans House Speaker Kevin McCarthy This week, uncertainty surrounding aid to Ukraine has increased further. Some hardliners are calling for an end to U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Jim Dubik, a senior fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), said President Putin is anticipating a decline in NATO and U.S. support for Ukraine, as well as recent events in the U.S. Congress. He said he was there. It will be left in the hands of President Putin.
“By cutting aid to Ukraine, Congress is directly supporting President Putin’s desire to divide the alliance… Congress’ recent actions… “The United States has not shown the kind of strategic leadership that the world expects from the United States.”
”#Putin I have no intention of quitting unless forced to do so. Considering the poor condition, #Russia military, he is barely holding out, and the U.S. #NATO Support wanes. By cutting aid, #Ukraine, Congress directly supports Putin’s desire to break up the alliance. ” 2/4
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) October 4, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke at a European summit in Spain on Thursday, expressing concern about the “political storm” in the United States, but still confident there is bipartisan support in the United States. said.
Leaders at the EPC summit said it was Putin’s calculation that the West would tire of its long-term support for Ukraine and give him a path to victory.
“I think Russia wants us to be tired,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kalas said, adding: “We should show them that we are not tired.” We must support Ukraine as much as possible. ”
French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced that message in a meeting with Zelensky, pledging “untiring” support for Ukraine.
However, there are also rifts within the EU.
Slovakia has decided on military aid to neighboring Ukraine after former Prime Minister Roberto Fico’s SMER-SSD party won Sunday’s parliamentary elections, pledging to end military aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. announced that it had been frozen.
