Delays with more modern weapons encourages Russian aggression — Ukrainian official

Danilov expressed these opinions in an article published on the Ukrainska Pravda website.

He stated, "The practice of dosing military assistance to Ukraine due to fear of irritating Putin and provoking Russia to further escalation is fundamentally flawed. Refusing or delaying the transfer of modern weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces is a direct encouragement to the Kremlin to continue the war, not the other way around."

Furthermore, Danilov believes that the destruction, either complete or partial, of Russia's Black Sea Fleet could prompt the aggressor nation to seek a quicker path to peace. 

He explains, "The complete or partial elimination of the Russian Black Sea fleet, which is a solvable problem, would significantly accelerate the process of finding a way out of the war. This could be a good demonstration of the Russian army’s lack of capabilities to adequately counter Western technologies, which would paint a very distressing scene of further events."

• On August 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces need ATACMS missiles in a phone conversation with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

• Subsequently, on September 9, it was revealed that the USA may supply missiles to Ukraine in upcoming aid packages. 

• Moreover, on September 12, reports indicated that the Biden administration was close to approving the supply of longer-range missiles to Ukraine, equipped with cluster munitions.

• It was also reported that the US may supply Ukraine with ATACMS missiles as early as this fall.