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The Nato chief warned Ukraine was being ‘shunned’ on the battlefields as he demanded members step up their support for Kiev.
In an impassioned plea, Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian troops faced a bleak prospect on the front line due to the critical shortage of shells and artillery.
They were recently forced to retreat from the strategically important city of Avdiivka because they could no longer withstand the intensity of Russia’s attacks.
NATO Secretary General said: “The Ukrainians are not running out of courage, they are running out of ammunition”.
Stoltenberg issued his appeal at yesterday’s launch of NATO’s annual report, which showed that 11 countries now meet the alliance’s defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (pictured) issued his appeal at yesterday’s launch of NATO’s annual report
Emergency personnel attend the scene of an explosion on October 10, 2022 in Kiev, Ukraine
At least seven more Nato members are expected to meet the target by the end of this year, a sixfold increase in ten years.
But despite the bloc’s increased funding, Mr Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine needed more help urgently.
He revealed that the lack of ‘political will’ to help Ukraine had consequences on the battlefield ‘every day’.
He said: ‘The US, Canada and Europe need to do more. The Russians are able to outperform the Ukrainians every day. It is one of the reasons why the Russians have been able to make some progress on the battlefield in recent months. Therefore, there is an urgent need for allies to make the necessary decisions to step up and deliver more ammunition to Ukraine.
A woman is evacuated from a burning apartment building in Kiev on March 15, 2022 after attacks on residential areas killed at least two people
“Of course we have the capacity, we have the economies to be able to give Ukraine what they need. It is a matter of political will to take the decisions and prioritize support.’
The failure of the US Congress to rubber-stamp President Joe Biden’s latest multi-billion dollar aid package was a prime example of a lack of political will.
A minority of Republicans was able to block the bill, which would have given Ukraine enough ammunition to last several months.
Sir. Biden subsequently apologized to his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelensky.
A Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood of Vladimir Putin (pictured) ordering an attack on a NATO state
Continued ammunition shortages could lead to his forces being forced to sacrifice additional territory, while a Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood of Vladimir Putin ordering an attack on a Nato state.
Ukrainian commanders are also deeply concerned about the prospects of a victory for Donald Trump in the November presidential election.
As the former president has repeatedly signaled, he would refuse to sign off on military aid to Ukraine, forcing the country to negotiate a peace settlement with Russia on the Kremlin’s terms.
Stoltenberg added: “Unprecedented assistance from Nato allies has helped Ukraine survive as an independent nation. But Ukraine needs even more support, and they need it now.
“There is an urgent need for allies to make the necessary decisions to step in and deliver more ammunition to Ukraine. That is my message to all capitals.’