Lviv, Ukraine — The mood in Ukraine is about as gloomy as it has been since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian troops are desperate for ammunition, and many feel they've been forgotten about by their global allies.
Saturday's two-year landmark will come right on the heels of one of the toughest losses Ukraine has suffered during the war. The fall of the city of Avdiivka, while symbolic more than strategic, came after months of relentless bombardment and enormous losses on both sides.
Ukrainian troops were overwhelmed, outgunned, and, one commander said, outnumbered seven to one.
A Ukrainian serviceman arrives severely wounded to an evacuation point after being removed from Avdiivka following Russian force's seizure of the long-fought over city, Feb. 20, 2024.NARCISO CONTRERAS/ANADOLU/GETTY
Fleeing resident Maryna Batrak said the Russians simply destroyed everything.
"They will destroy us too," she said. "Have you seen how the cities were wiped off the face of the earth?"
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a Thursday photo-op that saw him join the pilot in the cockpit of a nuclear-capable bomber, mocked what he called Ukraine's chaotic retreat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, at right, takes a flight on board a modernized Tu-160M strategic bomber, which took off from the runway of the Kazan Aviation Plant in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, Feb. 22, 2024.KREMLIN PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/ANADOLU/GETTY
Ukraine blamed the defeat on perilously low ammunition. The shortages come amid serious concern in Kyiv and other European capitals over the future of U.S. support for Ukraine's war machine.
About $60 billion in additional funding remains held up by political gridlock in the U.S. Congress. Even with European aid continuing to flow, the U.S. aid is considered crucial to Ukraine, as it includes ammunition, artillery rounds and maintenance for American-made equipment that has already been provided.
Adding a new dimension to the urgent calls for the U.S. assistance package to be approved by lawmakers, the top spokesperson for U.S. Army's command in Europe and Africa warned this week in an interview with CBS News that it expects "to run out of money before summertime" for operations on both continents if the money isn't released.
In a statement issued Friday, Mr. Biden lauded "the brave people of Ukraine," whom he said were "unbowed in their determination to defend their freedom and future."
He condemned "Vladimir Putin's vicious onslaught against Ukraine" and announced that the U.S. was targeting 500 entities with new sanctions on Friday over the ongoing invasion and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison last week.
Mr. Biden renewed his call for U.S. lawmakers to pass the aid package, echoing warnings from America's European NATO partners – and one that Zelenskyy issued himself in an interview with CBS News months before Russia launched its blitz – that "if Putin does not pay the price for his death and destruction, he will keep going. And the costs to the United States—along with our NATO Allies and partners in Europe and around the world — will rise."
"The people of Ukraine continue to fight with tremendous courage," Mr. Biden said in his Friday statement. "But they are running out of ammunition. Ukraine needs more supplies from the United States to hold the line against Russia's relentless attacks, which are enabled by arms and ammunition from Iran and North Korea. That's why the House of Representatives must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill, before it's too late."
From the outset of the war, the world has witnessed the merciless Russian bombardment of residential neighborhoods. Last year, thanks to the huge support from the U.S. and its partners, Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive, retaking some ground but failing to dislodge Russian forces who have deeply entrenched across the east.
Despite the U.S. alone already having contributed more than $75 billion to Ukraine's defensive efforts, it has become a grinding war of attrition. The Ukrainian government stopped sharing the number of its military dead a long time ago. But the ever-growing number of fresh graves, on both sides of the front lines, paints a painfully clear picture.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-2-years-us-biden-sanctions-putin-vicious-onslaught/
Lviv, Ukraine — The mood in Ukraine is about as gloomy as it has been since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian troops are desperate for ammunition, and many feel they've been forgotten about by their global allies.
Saturday's two-year landmark will come right on the heels of one of the toughest losses Ukraine has suffered during the war. The fall of the city of Avdiivka, while symbolic more than strategic, came after months of relentless bombardment and enormous losses on both sides.
Ukrainian troops were overwhelmed, outgunned, and, one commander said, outnumbered seven to one.
Fleeing resident Maryna Batrak said the Russians simply destroyed everything.
"They will destroy us too," she said. "Have you seen how the cities were wiped off the face of the earth?"
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a Thursday photo-op that saw him join the pilot in the cockpit of a nuclear-capable bomber, mocked what he called Ukraine's chaotic retreat.
Ukraine blamed the defeat on perilously low ammunition. The shortages come amid serious concern in Kyiv and other European capitals over the future of U.S. support for Ukraine's war machine.
About $60 billion in additional funding remains held up by political gridlock in the U.S. Congress. Even with European aid continuing to flow, the U.S. aid is considered crucial to Ukraine, as it includes ammunition, artillery rounds and maintenance for American-made equipment that has already been provided.
Adding a new dimension to the urgent calls for the U.S. assistance package to be approved by lawmakers, the top spokesperson for U.S. Army's command in Europe and Africa warned this week in an interview with CBS News that it expects "to run out of money before summertime" for operations on both continents if the money isn't released.
Why Ukraine needs U.S. funding, and why NATO calls it a vital investment. But it may be an even more urgent matter for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who pleaded for more U.S. support at a recent security summit in Munich, and appeared to hedge his bets given the prospect of a dramatic shift in American political leadership later this year."If Trump, Mr. Trump, if he will come, I'm ready even to go with him to the front line," Zelenskyy said. Trump is widely seen as being far less supportive of Ukraine than President Biden. Biden announces new sanctions against RussiaIn a statement issued Friday, Mr. Biden lauded "the brave people of Ukraine," whom he said were "unbowed in their determination to defend their freedom and future."
He condemned "Vladimir Putin's vicious onslaught against Ukraine" and announced that the U.S. was targeting 500 entities with new sanctions on Friday over the ongoing invasion and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison last week.
Mr. Biden renewed his call for U.S. lawmakers to pass the aid package, echoing warnings from America's European NATO partners – and one that Zelenskyy issued himself in an interview with CBS News months before Russia launched its blitz – that "if Putin does not pay the price for his death and destruction, he will keep going. And the costs to the United States—along with our NATO Allies and partners in Europe and around the world — will rise."
"The people of Ukraine continue to fight with tremendous courage," Mr. Biden said in his Friday statement. "But they are running out of ammunition. Ukraine needs more supplies from the United States to hold the line against Russia's relentless attacks, which are enabled by arms and ammunition from Iran and North Korea. That's why the House of Representatives must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill, before it's too late."
From the outset of the war, the world has witnessed the merciless Russian bombardment of residential neighborhoods. Last year, thanks to the huge support from the U.S. and its partners, Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive, retaking some ground but failing to dislodge Russian forces who have deeply entrenched across the east.
Despite the U.S. alone already having contributed more than $75 billion to Ukraine's defensive efforts, it has become a grinding war of attrition. The Ukrainian government stopped sharing the number of its military dead a long time ago. But the ever-growing number of fresh graves, on both sides of the front lines, paints a painfully clear picture.
美国政府是有理智的，即使不喜欢俄罗斯，也不能轻易军事卷入，其后果将远远比伊拉克或者阿富汗更复杂。
一个意味深长的局面是：美国和nATO看着乌克兰被揍得鼻青脸肿，仍然不松口允许乌克兰加入北约。NATO和美国清楚得很，一旦把乌克兰放进北约，局面将比现在更加难办。
美国按捺住军事干涉的冲动是非常正确的，乌克兰被揍成这样是他们自己的决定，自己的决定就有后果，这个后果不应该让美国来承当。美国可以扔几个钱去支援一下，但是指望美国为乌克兰而与俄罗斯作战是完全不能允许的。
乌克兰并不喜欢俄罗斯，乌克兰喜欢接近西方，可乌克兰的国家比较小，它一般情况下拧不过俄罗斯，同时西方并不重视乌克兰，西方只是在利用乌克兰与俄罗斯抗衡，乌克兰在战前连续遭到俄罗斯警告时，整个国家处在一种麻痹和麻木的状态，乌克兰不想被俄罗斯恐吓，可他们不愿意多想一旦俄罗斯入侵后这个小国遭遇的巨大苦难。以美国为首的西方在利用乌克兰与俄罗斯搞事情，却并没有允许乌克兰投入NATO的保护网，也就是在各自心怀鬼胎之间，乌克兰情不自禁地走向战争。
乌克兰的老百姓处在一个很无奈的局面：对现状不满，但是又做不了什么，最终听其自然，使国家包括整个百姓陷入战乱。