Rhetoric from Western nations promising to stand with Ukraine must be backed up with action, says a security and defense analyst. 

Deborah Haynes (a Sky News editor) has spoken to a number of soldiers and officials on the ground in Ukraine, who are growing increasingly concerned that they are falling behind in terms of access to much-needed weaponry.

“The Russian have massively ramped up their own military industrial base,” she says. 

Moscow is not only producing more weapons for its troops, she explains, but is also improving external supply from partners and allies. 

“There are also deals with North Korea for missiles, and drones from Iran,” she says.  

But, while Russia increases its access to weapons and ammunition, the West falters over key deals to give Ukraine stockpiles to match. 

Joe Biden’s latest aid package for Ukraine is stuck in Congress, as hardline Republicans refuse to back it before internal immigration issues are addressed, while Hungary has been holding up a similar package from the European Union.

“There’s lots of strong language, but no real change in terms of investment, and that’s really worrying,” Haynes concludes.