Nato Military Equipment - Finally, the West is starting to throw artillery at Ukraine. Some Ukrainians fear that It may be too little, too late.
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Nato Military Equipment
Ukrainian tanks prepare to attack Russian forces in the Luhansk region of Ukraine on February 26. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
Russia Invasion Of Ukraine Highlights Ugly Truths About U.s. And Nato
The United States and NATO allies have rushed to send tanks, helicopters and heavy weapons to Ukraine as the forces of the country preparing to deal with Russian military forces in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
The delivery of the new weapons is a sharp departure from Western aid to Ukraine in the early days. war, when US and European officials were unsure whether Ukraine could withstand a major invasion. Russia's for how long, from sending heavy weapons that could fall into the hands of Ukraine. Russia. The delivery also marks a transition from defensive systems such as anti-tank missiles to offensive weapons that Ukraine needs at a critical stage of the war.
The Czech Republic opened the floodgates earlier this month by sending tanks into Ukraine, becoming a The first NATO country since Russia launched an attack on February 24.
Other NATO countries have followed suit by sending high-end military equipment across NATO borders to Ukraine. Slovakia has sent advanced S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine, the United States announced on Wednesday. that will give 800 million US dollars in additional military aid. Among them are 11 MI-17 helicopters, 200 M113 fighter jets, 100 Humvees, 300 Switchblade "kamikaze" drones, helicopters But heavy, thousands of cannons and other explosives.
Pentagon: The Armed Forces Of Ukraine Will Gradually Switch To Nato Standard Equipment
In the early stages of the war, many Western officials believed that Kyiv could quickly fall to Russian forces within days, so they were reluctant to send heavy weapons to a government they were not sure would survive.
This changed after a major Russian offensive took place in northern Ukraine, due to tough Ukrainian resistance backed by Western anti-tank weapons and other small arms, as well as tactical mistakes by Russian forces.
Transferring heavy weapons to Ukraine is not easy. In addition to heavy vehicles and their own weapons, such a transfer to Ukraine will require There is a long back-up shipping line, including training, spare parts, and mechanics. To maintain vehicles that operate on the battlefield. (Russia has threatened to attack US and NATO weapons headed for Ukraine.)
"Tanks are not just rental cars," said Ben Hodges, former commander of US Army Europe. "When you're talking about transporting a machine or an armored vehicle, you have to think about spare parts, maintenance kits, training, fuel, ammunition... to make sure they can run things."
The U.s. And Europe Are Running Out Of Weapons To Send To Ukraine
At the same time, US defense officials said on Monday that many allied countries have Consider sending tanks to Ukraine, mostly Soviet-era tanks trained by troops in Kyiv. Trained. "This is a tool that the Ukrainians are probably already familiar with, so the training time will be shorter," Hodges said. fast
Logistics complications have prompted some Western governments to stop shipping heavy vehicles to Ukraine, despite calls from senior Ukrainian officials for more support for its armed and unmanned forces.
Others, particularly some politicians in Germany, fear that upgrading Ukraine's military with heavy weapons could make the West a target for further Russian attacks. There are reports that the debate has brought up problems within Germany's ruling party.
Germany's major arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, said earlier this week that it was ready to supply up to 50 used Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, but the German government has yet to make clear the arms transfer. Some German officials balked at the idea, believing it would take time. Too long to train Ukrainians, familiar with common post-Soviet weapons systems In Eastern Europe, in tanks produced by the West. Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, disputed this argument, saying that they could be trained in a few days.
Tanks, But No Ammo
In the eyes of Ukrainians, the new wave of Western arms transfers is a welcome change. But still not enough. Current and former Ukrainian officials say the West can do more to Arming the country ahead of what is expected to be a new decisive phase in the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter on Wednesday that "without more weapons, this war will be an endless bloodbath, spreading misery, pain and destruction," naming cities that Russian forces have targeted in military strikes. "Mariupol, Bucha, Kramatorsk - the list goes on. No one can stop Russia except Ukraine with heavy weapons."
Ukrainian officials and government accounts have started using the hashtag #ArmUkraineNow on social media as they You require the transport of more heavy weapons.
Olena Tregub, head of Ukraine's anti-corruption committee, said that the new handover from the West It was not enough to encourage the Ukrainians to fight against the vastly superior Russian forces. "Ukraine is slowly being put on an IV drip," she said.
Nato Is Dangerously Exposed In The Baltic
However, US and European officials say the new development means Washington and its allies Europe's friends are preparing to help Ukraine not only survive the Russian attack, but also Start the attack. They said that the transfer of heavy weapons could prove critical to the military success of Ukraine, although Ukraine believes that the transfer is not enough.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told Foreign Policy, "Southern Europe Do everything to support Ukraine to win this war, and This support will only increase in quantity and quality."
Ukraine's growing appetite for tanks — and pressure from Western officials to send more of them — is also being driven by a lighter battlefield in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, where tanks are easier to use.
Franz-Stefan Gady, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank based in London said: "The large area of eastern Ukraine, the so-called tank country, is the most suitable open area for mechanized warfare." "That's why Ukraine needs main tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, medium-range air defense systems, hand grenades, etc., to stay in this war, fight the Russian forces without stopping, and finally if there is an opportunity . "The main challenge for the Ukrainian forces is how to carry out large-scale combined arms operations against the superior firepower of Russia."
Russia Moves 30,000 Troops, Military Equipment To Belarus: Nato Chief
The U.S. has begun checking some boxes on Ukraine's extensive wish list for new weapons. Crane. A senior US defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Named because of guidelines set by the Pentagon, there are plans for Ukrainian coaches to travel. to NATO countries in Eastern Europe to discuss training on the use of New system. howitzers and counter radars.
Washington has also been a key contributor to the renewed response of NATO allies in Europe in As they switch their supply to Ukraine. After Slovakia sent its S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, the US sent the system Prevent one Patriot missile from going to Slovakia to fill the gap. The US also signed a major arms deal with Poland earlier this month to supply 250 Abrams tanks to the Polish military, possibly freeing Poland to send some of its tanks to Ukraine - although no such decision has been announced.
Some experts have argued that the United States should go further and support NATO allies such as Poland in the transfer of MiG fighter jets to Ukraine by offering to upgrade their air force with older F-16 fighter jets - a transfer that some allies oppose doing, and what. Can. It gets complicated when training and logistics are involved. (Slovakia is also reportedly moving its MiG fleet to Ukraine.)
Mr. Hodges argued that some Western countries are concerned that such military support may Caused NATO's conflict with Russia and Washington should increase the transfer of weapons to Ukraine.
Yes, Ukraine Needs Weapons. But What If Supplying Them Could Prove Catastrophic?
"We have increased the risk, and the Russians know it," he said. "We have the strongest alliance in the history of the world to be afraid to hand over a 25-year-old aircraft to a country fighting for its life."
He said, "If we are the armed place of democracy, let us be the armed place of democracy." And open the door and bring out whatever the Ukrainians want.
The conflict comes at a critical juncture in the war, as Russia regroups after withdrawing from the outskirts of Kyiv and Ukrainian forces gather their firepower to face a new battle for control of eastern Ukraine. The Pentagon official said that Russia is sending artillery units to the south of Donetsk city in eastern Ukraine and the report of the British Defense Intelligence Agency released earlier this week expects the Kremlin to carry out airstrikes against important population centers in Donbas such as Kramatorsk. The main train station, which
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