Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he may mobilize another 500,000 troops to augment Kyiv’s forces against Russia – insisting he was “confident the US will not let us down” with additional aid.
Zelensky, 45, has asked his military to give him a more detailed plan on a “very sensitive matter” to add more troops before he grants them their wish for additional soldiers.
If the plan goes ahead, it will cost Ukraine $13.4 billion, the leader said.
The US, which has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in cash and equipment for the war, will spend another $61.4 billion under a bill currently stalled in Congress.
Ukraine had about 800,000 troops as of October. Including the National Guard, that number rises to around 1 million.
Russia, which sparked the war when it invaded its neighbor in February 2022, now has about 1.32 million troops, after adding nearly 170,000 this month.
Zelensky said the conflict could last until 2025, although “no one has an answer” really for its end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering a military request to mobilize up to 500,000 more troops. SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock If the plan goes ahead, it will cost Ukraine $13.4 billion, the leader said. Reuters
“We have thoughts and ideas, and ideas can be far from reality,” he said.
He was quick to praise his forces for maintaining a tight line while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces have failed to occupy more Ukrainian land.
In addition, Zelensky insisted that the financial support promised by the US “will be fulfilled,” adding that he is also confident that the European Union will provide $50 billion euros, or around $55 billion.
“I am sure that the United States will not betray us, that what we agreed on in the United States will be fulfilled, in full,” Zelensky said, according to Ukrinform.
Zelensky insisted the support promised by the US “will be fulfilled,” and said he was confident the EU would provide 50 billion euros, or about $55 billion. “”I am confident that the United States will not betray us,” he said. He is confident that the EU will provide 50 billion euros, or about $55 billion. Yuri Gripas – Pool via CNP/MEGA
“We have achieved a victory regarding the European Union,” he continued, referring to Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU. “For 50 billion euros, I am sure we have achieved this. It’s just a matter of time. The first 1.5 billion, I think, will be this week. And I am sure that the decision about the 50 billion will be made in the near future, when they are [EU leaders] get together [for a summit].”
EU leaders are due to meet for a special summit in February to scrutinize its budget for 2024 to 2027.
Zelensky’s statement on US support came a week after he visited America for talks with President Biden and Republican senators, many of whom appeared to be opposed to more aid.
The Ukrainian leader insisted they “listened to each other” during his visit to DC.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
