Ukrainian FM says Ukraine can fight Russia even with shovels. MP advises sending him to war

He said this in an interview with ABC News.

After US President Joe Biden's administration and House Republicans failed to reach a broader funding agreement that would have included an additional $60 billion in security assistance for Ukraine's defense, Kuleba said that more money for Ukraine would potentially avoid a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, in which US troops would be forced to intervene.

"Whatever the price of supporting Ukraine is now, the price of fixing the mess in the world if Ukraine loses will be much, much higher," he said.

The minister also warned the United States and its allies about the message that a Russian victory in Ukraine would send to other adversaries.

"If the West is not able to stop Russia in Ukraine, who else is it able to stop in other parts of the world?" Kuleba asked.

He promised, however, that Ukraine would never give in to Russia, saying that "even if we run out of weapons, we will fight with shovels. Because what is at stake here for Ukraine is the existence of this nation."

Pressed on the idea that Ukraine will someday have to negotiate with Russia, Kuleba ruled out any talks with the Putin regime until Ukraine is in a much stronger position on the battlefield.

He acknowledged that the Russian military had "learned its lessons" and was now "far better adapted to this war," but predicted "more defeats" for Russia this year.

Ukraine's foreign minister acknowledged that the war had been difficult, but rejected the notion that Russian leader Vladimir Putin now looked stronger after Ukraine's failed counteroffensive in the summer.

"Hitler pretended to be very strong for many years and we all know how it ended," Kuleba said.

European Solidarity Party reacts to the statement 

Ukrainian MP Sofia Fedyna called Kuleba's statement "pompous" and "empty.”

"Minister Kuleba has decided to fight with shovels again. Someone should take him to the frontline in the coming days, hand him a blunt shovel and let him fend off artillery or dig a trench in 20-degree frost," she wrote.