Now the Senate has it approved aid package worth nearly $61 billion for Ukraine, and with President Biden ready to sign, much-needed American weapons could arrive on the battlefield in the next few days.
Yehor Cherniev, vice chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's national security committee, said the weapons package — which has been delayed by political wrangling among House Republicans since last fall — is the “lifeblood” for the Kyiv army.
But it will not include everything that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has demanded as his army tries to hold its ground after two years of war against invading Russian forces.
Here's what Ukraine says it needs, what it expects to get from the US aid package, and whether it will be enough to make an immediate difference.
What does Ukraine want?
Above all, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine needs long-range artillery shells and missiles to attack Russian forces, along with air defense systems to protect cities and important infrastructure such as military bases and factories. electricity and weapons factories.
“We need to inflict maximum damage on everything that Russia uses as its terrorist bases and military logistics,” Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly address to Ukrainians on Monday.
To do so, he said, Ukraine needs additional Long-Range Army Tactical Missile Systems — known as ATACMS and pronounced “assault” — to strike behind enemy lines and advance deep into Russian-held territory. The United States sent a small number of ATACMS, with a range of about 100 miles, to Ukraine last year, and they are used to it. attacked two Russian air bases in October. Ukraine is requesting a longer-range version that can strike targets about 290 miles away.
Artillery shells, such as 155mm artillery shells that fit Western-funded NATO-standard launchers, have been in short supply in Ukraine for more than a year, as Russian forces are firing twice as many rounds on the battlefield. 10 times more than the Ukrainian army. military, Mr. Zelensky said last week.
Mr. Zelensky also described the air defense system – and especially the US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system – as “very important”. And he has pushed for more than a year for F-16 fighters to provide another layer of air defense in the ground war in Ukraine.
What will Ukraine get?
The Pentagon has prepared what a US official said on Tuesday is a $1 billion military aid package that will be urgently transferred to Ukraine after Mr. Biden signs the funding bill. That package was okay Reuters originally reportedwill include shoulder-fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles, 155 mm artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles and battlefield vehicles.
US officials said the package will also include ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which can launch ATACMS missiles. The official did not confirm whether ATACMS was specifically part of the aid, and the Pentagon has generally resisted discussing the use of missiles in Ukraine, in part because of concerns that this could could anger Russia by admitting it sent long-range weapons to Ukraine. war.
It is unclear whether the US will send Ukraine or not another Patriot air defense force system, as Germany and other allies are said to be demanding. These systems are scarce and expensive, and giving another one to Ukraine could mean leaving the country unable to protect American assets, either domestically or internationally.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, said on Tuesday that the US aid package would allow the delivery of “advanced air defense systems” to Ukraine but did not specify what type.
Mr. Stoltenberg also said NATO allies are working to provide F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. So far, however, the United States has refused to donate any of its fighter jets, although the Air Force has helped train some of the dozens of Ukrainian pilots learning to fly them. officials said About 12 pilots will be ready to fly the F-16s into combat in July, but only six of them will be delivered to Ukraine at that time.
Will it be enough?
Although the $61 billion aid package was designated as support for Ukraine, Pentagon officials have said that up to 48 billion USD will go to American arms manufacturers to replenish the US stockpile that has been almost depleted during the past two years of war or to make more weapons for Ukraine.
The $1 billion the Pentagon is preparing will come from the remaining funds, and Sen. Mark Warner, the Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the money could can be “delivered on the weekend”. That could immediately help shore up Ukraine's front lines, where forces need to quickly intercept Russian drones, jets and light bombers, and prevent Ukraine from losing land.
However, Ukrainian officials appear skeptical that enough weapons will be delivered quickly and consistently in the coming months to sustain the growth momentum.
“When we get it, when we have it in our hands, then we have the opportunity to take this initiative and move forward,” Mr. Zelensky told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday. come forward to defend Ukraine.” However, he said, “it depends on how long we receive this aid.”
Weapons and ammunition sent to Ukraine are often sourced from Pentagon assets in Europe, with shipments coordinated by a staff of about 300 people. headquartered in Germany.
Yet for months, the United States and other allies have repeatedly warned that they have few weapons to supply Ukraine until weapons production can keep up with the growing demands of the war. . That prompted Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, to ask in an interview published Tuesday where the new arms package would come from.
“Is this device available?” Ms. Markarova told the Ukrainian daily newspaper Ukraine Pravda. “Can we find and produce enough equipment fast enough to get it?”
The funding will help, she said, but questioned whether all the weapons and equipment they will pay for are “ready for delivery.”
“Unfortunately no,” Ms. Markarova said.
