Military aid for Ukraine is limited, while Russia continues to have access to "critical components needed to produce missiles and drones," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on April 14.
"Each missile targeting Ukraine contains at least dozens of components – electronics, chips – supplied by companies from other countries and imported through the territory of Russia's neighbors," Zelensky said.
"All of this must and can be stopped, including the tolerance of terror, the ability of terrorists to seek allies around the world, and Russian terror itself, in all its manifestations," he said.
Zelensky added that the fact that "sanctions against Russia are still being circumvented" and that Ukraine has been waiting for the U.S. military aid for months "shows that the terrorists' confidence has been on the rise for months as well."
"We cannot waste any more time," he said.
U.S. aid to Ukraine has been delayed since fall 2023, as various versions of a foreign aid bill have been derailed due to border security disagreements. Some Republicans in the House have refused to support the aid package in principle, advocating against aid for Kyiv.
Ukraine is facing an ongoing ammunition shortage in the absence of further support.
In the same address, Zelensky also said that the current situation on the front line in Ukraine is increasingly difficult, especially in the direction of Russian-occupied Donetsk.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian military leadership set a goal to capture the town of Chasiv Yar, just west of the Russian-occupied Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, by May 9.
On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, a heavily militarized holiday marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russian troops are concentrating their efforts to break through west of occupied Bakhmut, Syrskyi said. He explained that they are trying to reach the Siversky Donets canal, an artificial waterway south of the river it’s named after, and seize Chasiv Yar – to advance further toward Kramatorsk agglomeration.
"The enemy's plans are being hampered by the heroic defense of our brigades, who have literally dug themselves into the ground, holding off the enemy's daily attacks," Syrskyi said.
"I thank every brigade, every soldier, and every commander who are doing everything to defend our positions and who are destroying the occupier," said Zelensky.
Dmytro Basmat
