A sigh of relief was heard in Ukraine and European capitals last weekend when the US House of Representatives approved a support package worth 57 billion euros – after months of delay. Now that President Joe Biden has signed the agreement on Wednesday, Ukraine can count on new, modern weapon systems and artillery ammunition in the very short term. And that help comes not a second too soon.
Due to the acute shortages of heavy artillery, among other things, the Ukrainian army has come under severe pressure in recent months. With the American weapons package, the Ukrainian army will probably be able to move forward for months again.
Come to the rescue
It is a huge boost for Ukraine, but it also painfully exposes relations in the West. Once again it is the Americans who have to come to the rescue, while the European defense industry is still trying to get going after two years of war in Ukraine.
American defense specialist Andrew A. Michta of The Atlantic Council wrote in an op-ed Politico not a good word for the European leadership, which he says is ‘still locked in a culture of boasting, while relying on the US to shoulder the lion’s share of the burden’.
After two years of war in Ukraine, much ink has been spilled about how the West might finally have woken up from its strategic slumber, but it is time to face up to the fact that Europe is too slow to ramp up production of weapons and ammunition. ‘ said Michta.
Many words, few actions
Defense expert Dick Zandee of the Clingendael Institute also still sees a great lack of urgency among government leaders in the EU to get the arms industry going as quickly as possible. “There is a lot of rhetoric, with Prime Minister Rutte, for example, repeatedly saying that wewhatever it takes and as long as it takes‘ continue to support, but when it comes to converting promises into the purchase of ammunition, I still see too little happening.”
At the same time, according to him, movements are indeed taking place in the EU. After the disgrace surrounding the failed promise by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to deliver a million pieces of artillery to Ukraine in a year, artillery production here is slowly but surely picking up steam. German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall says it is on track to produce 700,000 artillery shells this year. That is more than double what was produced annually in the entire EU before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And other gunmakers have also increased production.
The European goal of achieving a production capacity of two million artillery pieces per year by 2026 therefore seems feasible, says Zandee. “Provided the political support continues, of course. And that is still the question, if you look, for example, at the expected change in the political landscape with the elections for the European Parliament.”
American resistance to aid
In addition, the European Union’s defense investments are probably not ambitious enough in the long term. According to defense experts, the EU must prepare for a time when the US will no longer help Ukraine – and therefore the EU – out.
There was already a lot of resistance in Washington to the new support package for Ukraine. It is quite possible that this resistance will increase, especially if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has often been critical of support for Ukraine, is re-elected as president in November.
But even with the EU-friendly Biden in the White House, the US could in the near future, for example in the event of a conflict in Asia, shift the focus – and therefore military aid – from Europe to other regions. “If the US reduces or zeros out support, the pressure on the EU will only increase. Then, for example, we should be able to produce not two million but four to five million artillery pieces. Nothing has been prepared for such a scenario yet,” says Zandee.
US military aid on the way
The first shipments of US military equipment to Ukraine began in the evening on Wednesday. US President Joe Biden said this when signing the aid package that was approved by the US Congress after much wrangling. Biden said on that occasion that he will ensure that “shipments begin immediately, in the next few hours.”
The president praised Ukraine’s armed forces, which he said have “the will and the ability” to win. He also lashed out at Republicans, who are loyal to his political opponent Donald Trump, for blocking the aid package for a long time.
The Pentagon reported that Ukraine could expect the short-term delivery of anti-aircraft weapons, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons, among other things.
The support package for Ukraine amounts to 61 billion dollars, equivalent to 57 billion euros. It is part of a larger US foreign aid package that also goes to Israel and Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is happy with the support from the US. “Regardless of what anyone says, we will get the support we need to continue protecting lives from Russian attacks,” he writes on X. (ANP)
Tom Kieft is foreign coordinator Het Parool. He writes about the latest developments in Ukraine, the EU and the US, among other things.
Tags: sending billions worth weapons Kyiv Western Europe stop sweet talk happening
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