Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have requested to mobilize another 450-500,000 recruits.
The President of Ukraine announced the request of the Ukrainian military command during a press conference in Kiev. 450-500,000 people would join the Ukrainian army to repel the Russian invasion.
Ukraine. The army wants half a million people
Zelensky did not hide that mobilizing people on such a large scale is a “very delicate” issue. He said the final decision on the matter has not yet been taken. The issue will be studied by top military officials and then dealt with by parliament.
During the briefing, the politician expressed hope that the United States would continue financial support for the Ukrainian military efforts. As he emphasized, the army is in urgent need of additional personnel, but the issue of equipment and ammunition should not be overlooked. Zelensky said more Patriot systems will defend the country in winter.
Zelensky on the presidential elections
The President of Ukraine has announced that it is currently impossible to determine when the war will end. He added that even army commanders and involved Western partners cannot determine this. All voices about a long war or an impending peace are therefore only opinions, he emphasized. Zelensky also said that “soldiers will fight to the end” and do everything they can to “bring Ukraine closer to victory.”
Zelensky said that as long as the war continues, presidential elections cannot be held. The elections are expected to take place in March. Zelensky has previously said he plans to remain president as long as Ukraine is at war. He added that he would not consider re-election in peacetime.
Russia is preparing an offensive?
Meanwhile, Russian forces are conducting isolated offensive attacks on various parts of the front.
The commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, General Oleksandr Syrski, announced that the Russians are “attacking almost the entire front.” “But these are not coordinated actions, but rather attempts to improve the situation on individual sections.”
He has spoken several times in recent weeks about Russian attempts to improve his position in order to conduct a winter offensive, including: General Waldemar Skrzypczak.
In a conversation published on December 8 on Igor Yanke’s channel, he assessed that the Russian side probably believed that it now had a chance to achieve a breakthrough by defeating part of the Ukrainian forces.
Asked whether the Russian offensive, if it takes place, could be successful, the general said that the state of defense preparation by Ukrainian forces would be decisive. He added that if the Ukrainians started fortification works in October, they could defend themselves very effectively. He emphasized that Kiev must also count on continued help from the West, especially the United States.
Let us not forget that the continued US funding of the war has become a big question mark due to the dispute in Congress over protecting the southern border from the massive influx of migrants. Hungary, in turn, vetoed the European Union’s new financial package for Ukraine last week.
The equipment required ran into the hundreds
A similar assessment of the situation was given on Monday by the former commander of the Multinational Northeastern Corps, General Bogusław Samol, who predicts that the main offensive actions of the Russian side will begin in the spring.
He admitted that Ukraine’s future would be very difficult. As he recalled, the conditions for the success of Ukrainian defense, apart from Western aid, are the morale of the army and society. He emphasized that American aid is crucial, and Brussels is aware that the EU cannot replace it.
The general expressed fears that even if more tranches flow from the US and EU to Ukraine, it may not be enough to survive. – Ukraine still needs heavy equipment, not 30.50 tanks. Equipment in the form of aircraft, tanks and other weapon systems must be delivered in the hundreds. We must also consider dwindling ammunition supplies and Europe’s inability to produce enough ammunition to secure Ukraine. (…) War is waged with means, said Bogusław Samol. – A medium-sized country like Ukraine, compared to the potential that Russia has, will not survive without external help, he added.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
