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US Military Commander General Mark Milley. The Ukrainian military conveyed to General Milley its urgent need to defeat Russia. Photo/REUTERS
KIEV – Supreme general Ukraine said he had outlined the “urgent needs” of his armed forces at his first private meeting with United States (US) Military Commander General Mark Milley in Poland on Tuesday.
The Kiev military is pushing to secure a modern battle tank fleet from Western nations that it hopes can be used to repel troops Russia who invaded last February, seizing most of the territory to the south and east Ukraine .
“I outlined the urgent needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the fulfillment of which will accelerate our victory,” General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Military of Ukraine, wrote in a Telegram statement.
Also read: Polish PM: Ukraine’s Defeat Could Cause World War III
In an interview with The Economist in December, General Zaluzhnyi said he needed 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to help his troops push back the Russians.
“I know I can beat this enemy. But I need resources,” he said.
The United States was by far the largest supplier of military aid to Kiev during the war.
The Western Allies are scheduled to meet at a US airbase in Germany on Friday to pledge military support for Ukraine, with a focus on proposals to provide modern battle tanks.
The German-made Leopard tanks, which are held by armies across Europe, are seen as the most likely option to be delivered in bulk, but cannot be re-exported to Ukraine without Berlin’s approval.
In his statement, General Zaluzhnyi said he was grateful to General Milley. “(Thank you) for the unwavering support and assistance provided by the United States and its allies to Ukraine,” he said, as quoted by Reuters, Wednesday (18/1/2023).
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