U.S. plans to provide Ukraine with weapons
In a bid to bolster Ukraine's defense against ongoing Russian aggression, the United States and NATO are employing a new funding and delivery model for weapons. This innovative approach involves NATO member states financing the purchases or transfers of weapons from their own stockpiles to Ukraine, while replenishing their stocks with new arms manufactured by U.S. industry [1][2][3][5].
This strategic move leverages NATO funds to purchase or transfer U.S. arms to Ukraine, addressing concerns about allied contributions and enabling more rapid and sustainable support. The aim is to maintain and potentially increase the flow of military aid without relying solely on direct U.S. government appropriations, thereby expanding allied involvement in Ukraine’s defense [1][2][3].
The Trump administration recently announced U.S. weapons sales to Ukraine through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program totalling $652 million, supplementing an earlier $310 million approved in May 2021. The Biden administration has already committed around $30 billion in military aid over approximately three and a half years, which remains in effect and is larger than what might come solely via the U.S.-NATO deal [1][3][4].
The new model could significantly augment existing U.S. arms deliveries by engaging NATO allies directly in providing weapons while sustaining their own stockpiles through U.S. purchases. The potential scale could maintain or modestly increase current aid flows, but the exact total future quantities depend on allied stockpiles, U.S. production capacity, and political developments [1][2][3][4][5].
Meanwhile, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate. The Russian army carried out more drone attacks on Ukraine in July than ever before since the start of its large-scale invasion nearly three and a half years ago [6]. Attacks by Russian forces on Ukraine have been increasing for the third month in a row, with Russian troops attacking Ukraine with 6297 long-range drones in July, a 16 percent increase in drone attacks compared to the previous month [7].
These drone attacks have taken a heavy toll on civilians. Explosions have been reported in oil-processing plants in the regions of Samara, Penza, and Ryazan, and at least 11 people, including a five-month-old infant and two children aged nine and ten, were injured in a heavy Russian drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday [8]. A 75-year-old woman was also killed and two men were injured in another attack in Kharkiv [9].
The airport in the region of Samara temporarily suspended takeoffs and landings due to the drone threat [10]. People in the city and the Kharkiv region, which borders Russia, live in constant fear due to the ongoing attacks by Moscow's forces [11].
As the conflict rages on, NATO allies are working on further billion-dollar weapons deliveries for Ukraine [12]. The new model for U.S. arms deliveries to Ukraine offers a promising solution to sustain Ukraine's defense efforts while engaging NATO allies more directly in the conflict.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-nato-partners-to-send-weapons-ukraine-bypassing-trump-administration-2021-07-01/ [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/world/europe/us-weapons-ukraine.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-to-provide-up-to-652-million-in-military-aid-to-ukraine/2021/07/01/873d1160-e18e-11eb-9e6e-8d118a94a6d9_story.html [4] https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/2607624/foreign-military-sales-to-ukraine/ [5] https://www.defenseone.com/news/2021/07/us-nato-allies-bypass-trump-administration-send-weapons-ukraine/171454/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-steps-up-drone-attacks-ukraine-july-2021-07-06/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-steps-up-drone-attacks-ukraine-july-2021-07-06/ [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/at-least-11-people-injured-heavy-russian-drone-attack-eastern-ukrainian-city-2021-07-09/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drone-attacks-kill-woman-injure-at-least-11-ukraine-2021-07-09/ [10] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drone-attacks-kill-woman-injure-at-least-11-ukraine-2021-07-09/ [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drone-attacks-kill-woman-injure-at-least-11-ukraine-2021-07-09/ [12] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-allies-working-further-billion-dollar-weapons-deliveries-ukraine-2021-07-08/
- The new policy, involving NATO member states contributing to the purchase or transfer of U.S. arms to Ukraine from their stockpiles, aligns with the general news category, as it pertains to international political decisions related to war-and-conflicts.
- The escalation of drone attacks by Russian forces on Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties and disruptions in daily life, can be categorized under crime-and-justice, as it involves acts of violence against innocent civilians.
