Ukraine’s ‘Massive’ Ammo Deficit Greatest Danger to NATO Security: Source

Two weeks of NATO drama have somewhat overshadowed Ukraine’s deteriorating battlefield position, as Western politicians and media focus on the ever-present danger of direct conflict between Moscow and its transatlantic rivals.

Kyiv’s forces are struggling to hold the long front line in the south and east of the country against continued—and at time, frenzied—assaults. Units are increasingly short of manpower and are still being denied the Western ammunition and advanced weapons Kyiv says it vitally needs.

Recent interventions—and a significant intelligence leak—from Western capitals, though, have focused on the prospect of NATO troops operating within Ukraine and prompted fresh threats of nuclear war from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin allies.

French President Emmanuel Macron first raised the proposal of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine in training and advisory roles. In his denouncement of the plan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz revealed that French and British troops are already thought to be in-country.

This conclusion was then echoed in a recording, intercepted and leaked by Russia, of senior German military officials discussing Western support to Ukraine.

“The greatest acute danger is still from the frontlines in Ukraine,” one European diplomatic official—who spoke to Newsweek on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly—said when asked about the prospects of Russian escalation.

“The ammunition deficit is massive and Russian pressure intense,” they added. “The West is paralyzed by fear. So far, all the ‘red lines’ we’ve crossed have not brought the armageddon we’re so afraid of.”

A second European diplomatic official, who also requested anonymity to speak candidly, suggested to Newsweek that Moscow primarily wants to exploit alliance concerns to further deter Western aid to Kyiv.

“I doubt you can change Russia’s calculus just by sending trainers to Ukraine,” they said. “I’m sure the Russians are very well aware of who’s doing what in Ukraine.”

“Ukraine needs ammo and air defense; that’s where the immediate focus should be.”

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry by email to request comment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his top officials are all still lobbying hard for more weapons to be delivered faster and with increased regularity.

“Keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war,” the president said last month.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold off Russian attacks all along the 900-mile front. Fighting has been especially fierce in northeastern Kharkiv, and the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Russian forces are also attacking along the southern Zaporizhzhia front, seeking to reverse small gains made by Kyiv’s units in their failed summer counteroffensive there.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and the chair of the body’s foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek Kyiv would prefer munitions to Western boots on the ground.

“It’s better for our allies to send enough weaponry instead of sending troops,” he explained from Kyiv. “I have a feeling that it doesn’t distract from the issue of military aid,” the lawmaker added of the recent NATO furor. “On the contrary, our Western allies will be more interested in providing Ukraine with more military and material aid, rather than sending their troops.”

“President Macron’s statement is truly important because it is in line with the ‘strategic ambiguity,’ which makes the Kremlin so nervous and even hysterical,” Merezhko added.

“Psychologically it’s important to show to the Kremlin that ‘all options are on the table.’ It disorients Putin and makes him less confident.”