Ukraine complains that none of the 20 howitzers Italy has supplied to the country is operational. Photo RT
The Financial Times on Saturday reported that some military equipment that Italy supplied to Ukraine earlier this year had not been delivered in a state of combat readiness.
Citing an anonymous adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the newspaper said that none of the 20 self-propelled howitzers Rome supplied to Kiev could be used immediately.
Earlier this week, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Zelensky revealed that the country needed more weapons to launch its intended counter-offensive against Russia and ensure it was successful.
The source also noted that Kiev’s efforts to convince the US to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets have so far been futile.
According to the report, if Ukraine’s counter-offensive does not live up to expectations in the West, critics in the US and elsewhere will question the possibility of more military support for the country. Western governments may eventually force Kiev to accept a negotiated solution with Russia, the Times reported.
The newspaper concluded that the goal of recapturing important pieces of territory from Russian forces would likely be too high a claim for Kiev.
President Zelensky’s senior aide, Mikhail Podoliak, stressed that Ukraine still needs more weapons and equipment, while the commander of US NATO forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, stated, Western allies support it. Kiev has delivered 98% of combat vehicles to Ukraine.
Last week, Foreign Policy magazine reported that the German-made Leopard tanks given to Ukraine by eight countries could pose a logistical challenge to Kiev’s military.
Meanwhile, the Abrams tanks that Washington pledged to deliver to Kiev earlier this year will likely take several months to actually be deployed to the front lines.
