Officials from the United States have discussed sending fighter jets to Ukraine as weapons, ammunition, and supportive defense equipment continue to flow into the European nation while Russia’s invasion nears the end of its second week.
The Ukraine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, requested on March 4 that Europe, the United States, Canada, and Britain, impose new sanctions on Russia and also send military aircraft to the embattled nation immediately.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Kuleba’s plea for fighter jets the following day in a Zoom call to the U.S. Congress. Zelensky also called for tougher sanctions on Russia.
More US Firepower
Meanwhile, the House is set to approve an additional $10 billion aid package for Ukraine this week, over half of which is slated to be used for defense and military support.Built into the new Ukraine support package is an allotment for “weapons system upgrades.”
Waltz added Biden’s deterrence strategy relies too heavily on “soft power diplomacy” in hopes Putin won’t escalate the conflict.
He also pointed out President Zelensky and other Congressional members called for weapons to be shipped to Ukraine before Russia launched the invasion on Feb. 24.
The List Goes On
Concurrently, nations worldwide continue sending weapons and defensive equipment to Ukraine, with Australia, Poland, Japan, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway, and Denmark, offering sizable contributions.Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the shipment of $50 million in “lethal military assistance” for Ukraine on March 1.Japan
On March 4, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the Asian nation would deliver bulletproof vests along with other “defense supplies” as part of a comprehensive aid package, including humanitarian assistance, to Ukraine.Kishida spoke with Zelensky personally and relayed the plan to send support.
During the same call, Kishida told the Ukraine president Japan strongly condemns Russia’s attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
Japan’s prime minister called the assault on the facility, which is the largest in Europe, “totally unacceptable and outrageous.”
Croatia
Minister of Defense Mario Banozic announced an $18 million security assistance package on Feb. 28, including infantry weapons like rifles and machine guns, associated ammunition, and protective equipment. The minister said the country would send enough to outfit four brigades.Slovenia
The European country’s government shipped rifles, ammunition, and helmets to Ukraine on Feb. 28, which is a fast shift in policy from earlier last month when Defence Minister Matej Tonin said the country would ship supportive equipment but no weapons.Norway
In a rare move, the Scandanavian nation decided to send 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine on Feb. 28.Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “The Government decided this afternoon that Norway will offer arms support to enable Ukraine to defend itself against the military attack from Russia.
“We are therefore aligning our actions with our close allies and the other Nordic countries.
“Norway has a restrictive policy with regard to exporting defense-related products, but Ukraine is now in a desperate and extraordinary situation.”
Denmark
On Feb. 28, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed a shipment of 2,700 anti-tank missiles being sent to the Ukrainian army.“This is the first time in recent history that Denmark has donated weapons to a country at war,” Frederiksen noted.
Though the Danish government admitted they were considering sending more artillery.
Poland
The country is a critical lifeline for refugees fleeing the conflict and also the primary route for supplies being shipped into Ukraine. Polish officials have donated weapons and defensive equipment to the embattled nation amid its delicate political waltz.Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the majority of military support Poland is sending to neighboring Ukraine are “defensive weapons.”
“Russia has committed a criminal attack on Ukraine and is a threat not only to its territorial integrity but also to its sovereignty and independence,” Morawiecki added.