Donald Trump begins to act seriously — effective immediately. For now, all military assistance to Ukraine has been cancelled. Even the last deliveries of ammunition and equipment, which were approved for the administration of Joe Biden and any of which are inactive in Poland, were stopped. The Blick portal explains what this means for Ukraine.
What does that change on the battlefield?
The improvement of the government in Ukraine depends mostly on the supply of arms from abroad. “We will have small chance of surviving without the support of the United States,” said Zelenski himself in an interview with the American tv channel NBC on 16 February. Without US support, Ukraine's defence would be "very, very, very difficult," the Ukrainian president said.
Donald Trump already on Friday, after an argument at the White House, said about Zelenski: “Without us he will not win”. However, Ukraine besides has another allies.
"Europe can meet a large condition of Ukrainian artillery ammunition request combined with US- already supplied ammunition early this year," said Wall Street diary Michael Kofman of Carnegie Endowment for global Peace. "The challenges will become more visible as the summertime begins".
What has the US provided Ukraine so far?
The United States provides Ukraine with a full spectrum of military equipment. From dense weapons, specified as tanks and ammunition, artillery missiles, to medical supplies and refrigeration equipment.
However, 2 points are peculiarly important: on the 1 hand, the US provides modern weapon systems, which are essential to defend the Ukrainian civilian population. These include 2 ATACMS and HIMARS rocket systems, as well as a Patriot, a ground-based air defence rocket system. They can be utilized to defend against aircraft, maneuvering missiles and mid-range missiles. Internet access via Starlink Elona Muska is besides crucial for soldiers on the front line.
On the another hand, The United States provides very crucial intelligence information. German political scientist Peter R. Neumann said in a Sunday podcast “Ronzheimer”: “It is about Ukrainians knowing where the Russians are”. Many targeted actions of Ukrainians were possible only thanks to information from the US. "Ukrainians have so far utilized this global spy network, thanks to which Americans, like nobody else in the world, can spy on any country."
How much did it cost?
The Kilonian Institute of planet Economy papers support given to Ukraine since the beginning of the war over 3 years ago. Overall, European countries provided Ukraine with more financial support and the US provided more military assistance. Europe provided a full of EUR 70 billion (PLN 291 billion) of financial and humanitarian assistance and the US provided EUR 50 billion (PLN 207 billion). Europeans provided military aid worth a full of EUR 62 billion (PLN 258 billion), while the US provided EUR 64 billion (PLN 266 billion).
What can Europe do?
In order to support Ukraine, European countries could undertake greater financial commitments and besides compensate for certain military shortcomings from the US. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he wants to let Ukraine to acquisition over 5,000 LMM anti-aircraft missiles.
Ukraine has been able to make its own defence manufacture in fresh years. 1 of the best examples is drone production. According to experts from the U.S. Centre for strategical and global Studies, production has increased a 100 times since the beginning of the war 3 years ago.
What can Europeans not do?
There are major gaps in, for example, air defence and intelligence infrastructure specified as reconnaissance satellites. Politologist Neumann put it this way: “Europe is naked”. Europeans cannot replace aid from the US overnight. "If we do not want Putin to attack the remainder of Ukraine tomorrow, we inactive request Americans," he added. In fresh years, Europeans have clearly failed to build more of their own potential.
Experts from the Centre for strategical and global Studies anticipate that Ukraine will bleed to death without US help. Russian attacks may consequence in the conquest of an increasingly large territory. At any point, Ukrainian lines will break. "Ukraine will gotta accept the unfavorable and even draconian peace," they assess.
