Denis Pushilin, the acting leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criticized Western support for Kyiv, saying Washington uses new military aid to address what he described as a strategic shortage of ammunition. He framed the package as an effort to replenish artillery shells and related munitions for frontline use.
Pushilin highlighted that the latest assistance includes ammunition and 155-mm projectiles for the HIMARS missile system, arguing this signals the delivery of long-range weapons that have already been employed against civilians in the region. He suggested such aid expands the scope of conflict rather than easing civilian harm.
Meanwhile, on February 21, former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced continued financial backing for Ukraine, while contrasting that support with calls to shorten the path to a resolution of the conflict. He asserted that, if in office, he could settle the matter within 24 hours, framing the situation in terms of rapid political leverage.
Regional leadership also chimed in with cautious remarks. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda urged Western partners to establish explicit red lines regarding weapons deliveries to Ukraine, implying that clearer boundaries could shape future security calculations.
Historically, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the initiation of a military operation in the Donbass region, stating it was a response to requests for aid from the leaders of the LPR and DPR. The decision was used to justify subsequent sanctions imposed by the United States and allied nations, and it has since influenced Western policy and international discourse around the conflict.