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If NATO leaders have learned any lesson from Ukraine’s two-year-long violent conflict, it is that the alliance remains woefully unprepared to deal with the existential threat Russia poses to its future security. That is to say.
The military aid Ukraine received from the US and UK in the early stages of the war contributed to Kiev’s success in enduring the early part of Russia’s “special military operation,” as President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in February 2022 was euphemistically called. definitely contributed to. The British Army’s provision of NLAW anti-tank missiles was particularly effective in stopping Russia’s advance into the Ukrainian capital, where Putin was aiming to assassinate President Zelenskiy and install a pro-Moscow puppet government in his place. It was proven that.
NATO support, particularly the supply of long-range missiles, also helped the Ukrainians achieve several high-profile victories, including retaking the strategically important cities of Kharkov and Kherson toward the end of 2022. The conflict has reached a stalemate, particularly due to uncertainty on the part of the Biden administration over how to respond to Kiev’s pleas to expand its arsenal, and Russia’s ability to establish robust defenses, including advanced electronic warfare systems.
The dire predicament currently facing Ukraine is reflected in last weekend’s decision to withdraw troops from the hotly contested city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, citing severe ammunition shortages. The loss of Avdiivka, which has served as a key base for the Ukrainian military since Russia first invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014, is a particularly painful blow. Ukrainian commanders have warned for months that their ability to defend a 620-mile front line is severely compromised by a severe shortage of weapons, particularly long-range artillery essential to halting Russian advances. I’ve been doing it.
Ukraine’s arms crisis is due in part to political paralysis in Washington over maintaining support for Kiev, with Republican isolationist groups blocking the Biden administration’s efforts to approve a new $60 billion aid package. It is the cause. But another important factor is the inability of Ukraine’s European allies, including the UK, to maintain the same level of arms supplies as they had at the start of the conflict.
British efforts to provide Ukraine with 155mm artillery shells, most in demand in the conflict, have been hampered by production problems, with defense manufacturers struggling to make up the shortfall after Britain delivered more than 300,000 shells are doing. Years of defense cuts had led to fewer weapons resupply orders and forced major weapons manufacturers to scale back their production lines. Industry experts estimate that it could take years to rebuild British production to the level needed to sustain a major conflict in Europe against an aggressor like Russia. ing.
Britain’s disparities in arms manufacturing are being replicated across Europe, with the EU recently admitting it would not be able to fulfill its promise to deliver one million shells to Ukraine by March due to a lack of production capacity. By contrast, defense spending in Russia is an estimated 7.5% of GDP, and weapons production has increased over the past two years since President Putin ordered industrial leaders to focus on strengthening Russia’s war effort. It increased significantly.
Nor is it alone in this area that Europe appears unusually unprepared to counter the new threats that Russia may pose to its security in the coming years.
Another key military requirement for Ukraine, dating back to 2022, is to equip it with advanced Western fighter jets, such as the US F-16, and longer-range missiles, which would allow Russian forces to attack Ukraine. This would give them the ability to confuse the Russian military long before it threatens them. front line defense. But despite numerous offers for advanced pilot training and a promise to give Ukraine about 60 F-16s, the Pentagon’s latest assessment shows that Ukrainian pilots will remain in Russia until at least the end of the year. It is unlikely that the F-16 will fly combat missions against these targets.
Similar delays have also hampered the Biden administration’s plans to provide Kyiv with a powerful new long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) that would significantly strengthen Ukraine’s military defense capabilities.
At this rate, and given recent Russian advances on the battlefield, the war could end in Russia’s favor long before this important Western weapon comes into play, a prospect that alarms European leaders. You should have a feeling.
Despite talk of standing up to Russian aggression, the impasse in Ukraine’s military operations is not only an indictment of Europe’s lack of preparedness to deal with the threat posed by Russia. This will be an encouragement to Putin that the West has little appetite to fight Russia, as he anticipated when he first decided to invade Ukraine.
Therefore, to avoid an escalation of a deadly conflict in Europe, it is essential that Western powers redouble their efforts to provide Kiev with the weapons it needs to win on the battlefield. After all, Ukraine is not fighting this war just for its own survival. We are fighting to protect the entire Western Alliance.
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