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Joe Biden's administration wants to begin shipping weapons and equipment to Ukraine within days of the expected passage of the aid law. However, aid will arrive much later than hoped for by Ukraine, which is running out of ammunition. In addition, uncertainty awaits Ukraine after 2024, writes Reuters.
But officials and experts agree that artillery shells, precision missiles and air defenses will change Ukraine's military outlook. However, analysts caution that there are no guarantees that aid will come in the future.
"Thanks to military assistance, which will be provided both practically and psychologically, the Ukrainians are quite capable of holding their ground until 2024 and shattering Putin's arrogant notion that time is on his side," CIA Director William Burns said, adding that the ammunition , air defense missiles and long-range weapons could start moving “within days” once the bills become law.
The delay in aid cost Kyiv dearly
The aid is coming too late, as a shortage of material means has led to Ukraine losing the initiative in October 2023, according to Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. Since October, Ukraine has lost 583 square meters. kilometers Russia also had time to prepare for offensive operations expected in late spring or early summer.
Retired Vice Admiral Robert Merrett of the Institute for Security Policy and Law at Syracuse University emphasized that the Ukrainian military must be able to immediately deploy munitions – especially anti-aircraft missiles, anti-aircraft interceptors and artillery shells. Ukraine should also get more missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
Political uncertainty
Uncertainty awaits Ukraine after 2024. Among the main reasons is the possible re-election of former US President Donald Trump, who has expressed skepticism about large amounts of aid to Ukraine and questioned how quickly the US and European defense industries can ramp up arms production. Part of the Republican Party holds the same opinion.
"Ukraine should use the year 2024 to restore its forces for a long war. Europe's goal should be to be able to potentially fill the future gap left by the United States if they do not pass another additional law," Bergman said.
According to Jeffrey Price, an international lawyer and senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, if the package of laws is signed by the US, it can have a powerful signaling effect not only from the point of view of the morale of Ukrainians, but also for other US allies , who will provide assistance.
US aid
On Tuesday, April 23, the Senate is expected to vote on the approval of the draft law on aid to Ukraine, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives of the US Congress. US President Joe Biden called on the Senate to consider this document as soon as possible and send it to the White House for signature.
In the next package of military aid from the USA, Ukraine may receive, in particular, ATACMS tactical missiles with an increased range.
