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VOLODYMYR Zelensky made an impassioned plea to the West as he admitted Ukraine has lost more than 30,000 soldiers in its war on Russia.
Ukraine‘s president was speaking at an event to mark the second anniversary of Vladimir Putin‘s invasion – which sparked the biggest war in Europe since World War 2.
Reuters
Reuters
AFPThe 46-year-old former actor – who has won many admirers thanks to his steely resolve – was candid and frank as he told his Western allies that Ukraine’s victory “depends” upon them.
Zelensky also for the first time admitted the death toll suffered by his troops – some 31,000.
He was directly responding to the claims circulated by Russia that Ukraine had lost hundreds of thousands of men.
Kyiv claims Russia has lost vastly more than them, with a sky-high figure of nearly 410,000.
It would put the rate of losses between Ukraine and Russia at more than ten to one.
And while the truth of the figures from both sides is unverified, it is known Moscow has vastly more manpower than Kyiv.
Two years since the start of the war, the trench-pitted and mud-streaked fields of Eastern Ukraine are at a near stalemate.
But the longer the war goes on, the more important Putin’s vast pool of bodies and resources comes into play.
Zelsnky said: “Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world.”
He was speaking at a time when Ukraine has been weakened by a shortage of ammunition and the blocking of US aid in Congress.
“There is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive, otherwise I do not understand the world we will start to live in,” Zelensky said.
The aid has been blocked amid resistance from Republicans.
It comes amid growing fears that the US election in November and Donald Trump‘s stance on intervention overseas could make or break for Ukraine.
But Zelensky also aimed the EU – claiming Ukraine has received just 30 per cent of the one million artillery shells promised by Brussels.
Zelensky also claimed that Ukraine’s highly anticipated counteroffensive last year was stalled by intelligence leaks.
He added his military chiefs are preparing “several plans” for a breakthrough year in 2024.
And he also predicted that the Russians will likely attempt another large-scale offensive in Ukraine as soon as May.
The scars of war in Ukraine
MOLFAR, Ukraine's largest military and intelligence think tank - spoke to The Sun about the gruelling effects of war on the ground in Ukraine.
Artem Starosiek, CEO and founder, said that when the first-year anniversary passed in February 2023, a lot of Ukrainians were beaten down.
“When the one year passed, lots of people felt tired, I think… we understand that this is not a short war, and it will be a marathon.”
A year on, he says the same is true – but they persevere.
“We still want to win. To still be fighting,” he said.
But they desperately need Western support to keep up morale and gain the upper hand on the battlefield.
Starosiek said: “The lots of Ukrainian soldiers who die… because of the lack of the western support and that we didn’t get ammunition on time.”
In a chilling reminder of where Ukraine is now, he said: “After two years of war, everyone in Ukraine has had a relative who is fighting or who has died after this war.”
And General Barrons pointed out that Ukraine’s “Dad’s Army”, where the average age of a frontline soldier is 43, are tired.
“Those soldiers are on the frontline for 48 weeks a year. That’s really hard, and it’s winter and they’re tired.
“The scars of war will run deep and far, and the thing we need to remember is in the interests of European security.”
Putting a number on Ukraine’s military losses in two years of brutal fighting with Russia, Zelensky said: “31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war.”
He added: “Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever Putin and his lying circle are saying.
“But each of these losses is a great loss for us.”
Asked if he would talk to Putin, Zelensky said: “Can you talk to a deaf person? Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?”
Putin’s main opponent Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison this month.
“He sees himself (in power) by 2030, we would like to finish with him sooner,” Zelensky added.
He mocked an upcoming presidential election in Russia that is likely to extend Putin’s long rule until 2030.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has called on the United States to continue providing “bolder” military support for Ukraine.
Writing in The Sunday Times, the Prime Minister also said Ukraine’s allies should use money obtained through Russian sanctions and assets to fund Ukraine’s defence.
The UK has pledged to invest £245 million in producing artillery shells for Ukraine and £8.5 million in humanitarian funding as the conflict enters its third year.
US President Joe Biden continues to struggle to secure support for further military aid amid partisan squabbles in Congress.
Mr Sunak said: “We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security.
“I urge them to continue that support, and I am confident they will.”
“We must be bolder with our military support – providing Ukraine with more long-range weapons, more drones and more munitions.
“We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy. Our collective sanctions have deprived Russia of 400 billion US dollars for their war effort – enough to finance the invasion for another four years.”
Mr Sunak also suggested Ukraine’s allies should look to directly redistribute any money taken from Russia or its citizens back to the war efforts.
He continued: “We must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets.
“That starts with taking the billions in interest these assets are collecting and sending it to Ukraine.
“And then, with the G7, we must find lawful ways to seize the assets themselves and get those funds to Ukraine too.”
Putin had only expected the war to last a few weeks – but has instead found himself bogged down in the biggest European war since World War 2.
Russian forces envisioned a march towards Kyiv and to be met with waving flags but instead, they were battled back by the heroic Ukrainians.
Putin’s vicious forces tried to pillage their way across the country, killing and raping civilians – with more than 10,000 dead.
And some two years on the war has ground on – with it now being bogged down in the country’s far east.
Russian forces occupy less than 20 per cent of Ukraine.
The situation however remains fragile – and it is feared Ukraine’s valiant defence could crumble if they lose support in the West.
English (US)