Over the weekend of April 27, Ukrainian troops were on the retreat from Russian forces. The United States is rushing aid to Ukraine since the foreign aid package passed on April 24. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the weapons coming from the U.S. need to come faster because Russia is capitalizing on the holding period.
Zelenskyy said the aid is urgent since Russia’s artillery shells outnumber Ukraine’s 10 to one.
Ukraine’s shortfalls on the battlefield range from manpower to artillery. Russia is taking advantage, advancing through at least half a dozen villages since February following a capture in the critical town of Avdiivka, which was once held by Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the offensive. Ukraine is pulling back its line of defense as Ukrainian troops were ordered to retreat from multiple villages.
Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, one of Ukraine’s top commanders, said his troops have been outgunned and are in a dire situation. Syrskyi said the conditions are worsening as Russia presses against Ukraine, which is waiting on U.S. stockpiles to help reload on the battlefield.
Ukrainian officials said the retreat ordered by Ukraine is to strategically and safely position its forces until the troops can get the new artillery. The acquisition of aid from the U.S. could help forces potentially try to go back into captured areas.
According to Ukraine’s own intelligence, the war will be its most difficult from mid-May to early June.
Zelenskyy is hopeful the aid from the U.S. can change the situation on the battlefield. While the aid did pass Congress, there has been skepticism surrounding whether the $60 billion for Ukraine will do anything significant.
Some military experts are doubtful it will equip Ukraine for a major offensive operation. The only Ukrainian-born U.S. lawmaker, Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., was against the aid package — even for her homeland.
“You know, we have the false choice of either saying that Ukraine doesn’t matter to America or support Ukraine with no question asked with blank checks,” Spartz said. “Both of these positions are not good in our national interest, and both of these positions are not good in the interest of the people of Ukraine.”
Now in its third year, people have different viewpoints on how the war is going. Some military experts said this latest round of aid will give Ukraine the chance to prevail while others believe it will help Ukraine stay in the war, not win it.
