Urges US to Speed ​​Up Arms Delivery, Ukrainian President Zelensky: Russian Army Trying to Take Advantage

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi. (Wikimedia Commons/President Of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday asked for the delivery of important weapons from the United States to be accelerated, even though weapons are already starting to arrive in the country, assessing that Russia is trying to take advantage of the current situation.

In a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Zelensky said the situation on the battlefield directly depends on the speed of ammunition supplies to Ukraine.

"Timely support for our army. Today I have not seen anything positive regarding this. There is supply, it has started a little, this process needs to be accelerated," he said, as reported by Reuters, April 30.

The United States passed a $61 billion aid package last week, ending months of congressional deadlock and raising hopes in Kyiv that its critically low stockpile of artillery shells would soon be replenished.

"The Russian army is now trying to take advantage of the situation when we are waiting for supplies from our partners. And that is why the speed of delivery means stabilizing the front line," explained President Zelensky.

"Russia is preparing offensive actions," he added.

The Ukrainian leader also stressed the need for supplies of advanced Patriot air defense launch systems that Kyiv wants to acquire from its allies, to counter Russian long-range missile and drone attacks.

He said Kyiv had made some progress in obtaining supplies of missiles for the Patriot system, but it was still working on obtaining new launchers that could fire the missiles.

As previously reported, Ukrainian military chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Sunday that his outnumbered troops had withdrawn to new positions west of three villages in the country's eastern region, where Russia has significantly concentrated its troops in several locations.

Colonel General Syrskyi's remarks reflect Ukraine's deteriorating position in the east, which Kyiv had hoped would stabilize after receiving US arms shipments under a $61 billion aid package approved this week.

"The situation on the front line is getting worse," wrote Colonel General Syrskyi on the Telegram app.

The statement described the "most difficult" areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, a town captured by Russian forces in February.