The head of Nato warned that Ukraine was being ‘outgunned’ on the battlefields as he demanded members increase their support for Kyiv.
In an impassioned plea, Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian troops faced a bleak prospect on the frontlines due to the critical shortages of shells and artillery.
They were recently forced to withdraw from the strategically significant city of Avdiivka because they could no longer withstand the intensity of Russia’s assault.
The Nato secretary-general said: ‘Ukrainians are not running out of courage, they are running out of ammunition’.
Mr Stoltenberg issued his appeal at yesterday’s launch of NATO’s annual report, which showed that 11 countries are now meeting the alliance’s defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (pictured) issued his appeal at yesterday’s launch of NATO’s annual report
Emergency service personnel attend to the site of a blast on October 10, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine
At least seven more Nato members are expected to achieve the target by the end of this year, a sixfold increase in a decade.
But despite the bloc’s increased funding, Mr Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine needed more help urgently.
He revealed the lack of ‘political will’ to help Ukraine was having consequences on the battlefield ‘every day’.
He said: ‘The US, Canada and Europe have to do more. The Russians are able to outgun the Ukrainians every day. It is one of the reasons why the Russians have been able to make some advances on the battlefield in recent months. Therefore it is an urgent need for allies to make the decisions necessary to step up and provide more ammunition to Ukraine.
A woman is evacuated from a burning apartment building in Kyiv on March 15, 2022, after strikes on residential areas killed at least two people
‘Of course we have the capacity, we have the economies to be able to provide Ukraine with what they need. This is a question of political will to take the decisions and to prioritise support.’
The failure by the US Congress to rubberstamp President Joe Biden’s most recent multi-billion-dollar aid package was a prime example of a lack of political will.
A minority of Republicans were able to block the bill which would have provided Ukraine with sufficient ammunition to last several months.
Mr Biden subsequently apologised to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
A Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood of Vladimir Putin (pictured) ordering an attack on a NATO state
Continued ammunition shortages could lead to his forces being compelled to sacrifice further territory, while a Russian victory in Ukraine would increase the likelihood of Vladimir Putin ordering an attack on a Nato state.
Ukrainian commanders are also deeply concerned about the prospects of a victory for Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.
As the former President has repeatedly signalled, he would refuse to sign off on military aid for Ukraine, forcing the country to negotiate a peace settlement with Russia on the Kremlin’s terms.
Mr Stoltenberg added: ‘Unprecedented aid from Nato allies has helped Ukraine survive as an independent nation. But Ukraine needs even more support and they need it now.
‘It is an urgent need for allies to make the decisions necessary to step and provide more ammunition to Ukraine. That’s my message to all capitals.’