Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) – The United States has pledged to provide Ukraine with the “weapons it needs” to defend itself against Russia, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday as Ukraine seeks more military assistance than Russia. the West. Sullivan said the Biden government would send more weapons to Ukraine to prevent Russia from occupying more territory and targeting civilians, attacks that Washington has called war crimes. “We will take to Ukraine the weapons it needs to defeat the Russians to prevent them from taking more cities and towns where they commit these crimes,” Sullivan told ABC News’ This Week. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Moscow has denied allegations of war crimes by Ukraine and Western countries. Speaking later on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Sullivan said the United States was “working around the clock to deliver our weapons; and to organize and coordinate the delivery of weapons from many other countries.” “Weapons arrive every day,” Sullivan said, “including today.” The United States has sent $ 1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on February 24, the White House said last week. Weapon missions include Stinger defensive anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, as well as ammunition and body armor. However, US and European leaders are being pressured by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to provide heavier weapons and equipment for Russia’s involvement in the eastern part of the country, where Russia is expected to step up its military efforts. read more In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” to be broadcast later Sunday, Zelensky expressed skepticism that the United States would deliver the weapons he said he needed. “Whether Ukraine can defeat the Russian invasion” depends on how quickly we get help from the United States. To be honest, whether we can survive depends on that, “Zelensky said. “I have 100% confidence in our people and in our armed forces, but unfortunately I am not convinced that we will get everything we need.” On Friday, Ukrainian officials said more than 50 people had been killed in a rocket attack on a train station in the Donetsk region of Kramatorsk, where thousands of people had gathered to flee. The invasion of Russia forced about a quarter of the population of 44 million to flee their homes, has turned cities into ruins and killed or injured thousands. Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in what it calls a “special operation” to demilitarize and “denationalize” its southern neighbor. Ukraine and Western nations have dismissed it as an unfounded pretext for war. Russia on Saturday appointed a new general to lead its forces in Ukraine, Aleksandr Dvornikov, who had significant military experience in Syria. Against this background, Sullivan said he expects Dvornikov to allow more barbarism against the Ukrainian civilian population. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, speaking on CNN’s State of the Nation, urged the Biden government to provide Ukraine with both offensive weapons, such as tanks and planes, and defense systems, such as anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. “I think we have to do what Zelensky says is needed at this point, given the simply incredible battle they have fought,” he said. A CBS News poll published on Sunday showed widespread support among Americans for sending more weapons to Ukraine. According to the poll, which was conducted last week as news of Russian attacks on civilians unfolded, 72% of those polled were in favor of sending more weapons, while 78% supported economic sanctions on Russia. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Joel Schectman in Washington and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago. Writes James Oliphant. Editing by Mary Milliken and Lisa Shumaker Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
