During a visit to Japan on Tuesday, Shmyhal said Ukraine has modern equipment and well-trained soldiers and is fighting according to NATO standards, but the country needs more long-range missiles to fight Russia on the front line.
"Unfortunately, now Russia has the upper hand in the air, which unfortunately leads to some consequences on the front line, but I should say that our partners have not refused to supply military equipment to Ukraine,".Shmyhal's remarks come at a time when ammunition shortages and limited manpower are causing Ukraine to suffer heavy losses on the battlefield.
On Sunday, Russian forces captured Avdiivka, an important hub city leading to the industrial region of Donbas, in their biggest victory since the capture of Bakhmut in May.
But support from Western powers faces resistance due to rising costs, while lawmakers in Washington continue to argue over Kyiv's military aid package.
The U.S. reported that Joe Biden is considering including long-range ballistic missiles if the $95 billion foreign aid package can be voted on in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. These ** have a longer range compared to the medium-range missiles launched by the United States so far. They will allow Ukraine to attack the Russian-controlled Crimean peninsula.
To date, the United States has provided about $111 billion to Ukraine, mostly **, but also equipment and humanitarian aid.
Shmyhal said when Ukraine began deploying F-16 fighter jets later this year,"We will balance the situation on the battlefield, it will be much easier for us". But at present, there is a constant shortage of long-range artillery and missile equipment, and "if it is stopped, if it is postponed, this is the main danger on our battlefield."
On Tuesday, Sweden said it would provide Ukraine worth 6$8.2 billion in military equipment.
The reason for our continued support for Ukraine is a matter of humanity and decency. Russia has waged an unprovoked and indefensible war," Defense Secretary Pal Johnson said at a press conference.
Shmyhal met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, and Japan wants to provide global support for Ukraine as the war drags on and attention has shifted to the Gaza conflict. Japan has been focusing on reconstruction assistance, in part because of the constitutional restrictions on the provision of lethal aid.
A day earlier, Kishida pledged a long-term commitment to Ukraine's reconstruction at a meeting focused on economic growth.
During the meeting, Shmyhal also called for the imposition of new sanctions against Russia after the death of prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Germany, Lithuania and Sweden also called for new punishments for Moscow at a meeting of senior EU diplomats.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program