Western Allies Are Now Balking At Taking Any More Equipment Out Of Their Inventories To Support Ukraine In Its War Against Russia

A Ukrainian MLRS BM-21 'Grad' shoots toward Russian positions at the front line in the Kharkiv region in Ukraine on Aug. 2. (Evgeniy Maloletka/The Associated Press)  

CBC News: As Ukraine pleads for more weapons, allies warn the cupboards are almost bare 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to make a direct appeal to weapons makers this month It may appear at times that the U.S. can call on a bottomless pit of military stores to supply Ukraine. 

Increasingly, however, western allies are balking at taking any more equipment out of their inventories to support the eastern European country's war against Russia. 

It's an untidy, uncomfortable aspect of alliance politics that was acknowledged publicly on Friday by the secretary general of NATO. 

"Some allies are now raising the issue of whether these stocks are depleted too much," Jens Stoltenberg said after his meeting in Brussels with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (He did not name the allies in question.)  

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WNU Editor: I know Canada has reached its limit when it comes to supplying military aid to Ukraine. Most (if not all) EU states are also tapped out. And as for US promises to ship weapons to Ukraine. Much of what has been promised is coming from US inventories that are now very low, and will only be replenished by next year .... Department Moves Quick to Replenish Weapons Sent to Ukraine (US Department of Defense). 

The Kremlin has been saying since the summer that their military operations in Ukraine are not driven by a calander or seizing territory but are driven by objectives and goals. The Kremlin has also been saying that time is on their side. Makes you wonder if they are they looking at Ukraine's ability to sustain the war and are then using that intel to make their decisions and strategy accordingly? I know I would.

A week ago I speculated that Zelensky made the decision to go for broke .... Ukraine President Zelenski Is Going For Broke (September 5, 2022). That he needs a win now to reassure Western supporters that he can win and that they should continue to support his government. So is this the reason why the Kherson and now Kharkiv counter-offensives were ordered? To throw everything including the kitchen sink into the fight?

It has not worked in Kherson, but it looks like it is working near Kharkiv.

Update: There is a lot of speculation on both Russian and Ukrainian social media sites that I trust of another Ukrainian counter-offensive (their third) being prepared for the Zaporizhzhia Oblast (that is where Mariupol is located).