The US Agrees To Send Advanced Rocket Systems To Ukraine
But on the proviso they are not aimed at Russian soil
After nearly 100 days of war, the West has agreed to send Ukraine the weapons they needed to defend themselves. I would say that this is about 90 days late, an in that time Mariupol and Severodonetsk have been more or less destroyed, thousands have died, people have been tortured, raped, and executed, and millions have been displaced having been forced to leave their homes and their country to survive.
Did the US and Germany really have to wait until things got so bad before they chose to ‘act’? Russia had been preparing for this for years, where Ukraine had limited time to gather their troops.
I spoke to a friend about the war, and she said that things had gone quiet. I corrected her, and said things had not gone quiet but the mainstream media is choosing not to focus on it unless there is something big like Bucha. Yes, you have to look for information on the war now as the media is focused on the Depp/Heard trial, and the numerous flight cancellations in the UK. In the US, the Uvalde tragedy dominates as the funerals of the victims have begun to take place, as the debate over the gun laws continue. Fighting for stricter background checks would have yielded nothing for a boy who had just turned 18, and any mental health issues would not have been flagged unless they had been diagnosed with a medical professional. These are the harsh facts for those who believe that a background check would have prevented the incident, but how many need to say ‘enough is enough’ for action to be taken?
The same could be said about Ukraine, how much longer can the West prop up Ukraine before Russia leaves the country? If Putin surrenders, then how can he address the Russians? He may blame the West, and state that he was saving Russians, but promise them that they will return to finish the special military operation.
It is unlikely that Ukraine will be able to join NATO for a considerable time, as they cannot while they are involved in a conflict (besides the other criteria), therefore, once Russia does leave, who will protect Ukraine when they are attacked again?
Right now, it is a battle of wills where Russia and the US are waiting for each other to slip up. I do not believe that Russia seeks peace—it never has done. This invasion also served as a test to see how strong NATO is, and that is dangerous for NATO has looked like the weakest link. The other Baltic states nearby are quite rightly concerned, for if Russia is not defeated, then they know they might be next regardless of whether they are in NATO or not.
This is the response from Russia (Lavrov) when the US announced they would supply Ukraine with advanced weapons, blaming Ukraine for bringing the West into the conflict by asking for assistance:
The things that the Kyiv regime unapologetically demands from its Western patrons, firstly, overstep all bounds of decency and diplomatic relations and, secondly, are a direct provocation aimed at drawing the West into combat. Lavrov
Day 98 (1 June)
The US (after saying they would not provide rocket systems) have agreed to send medium-range rocket systems ( M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System -HIMARS) rather than long-range ones, on the proviso that Ukraine does not use them in Russia. That would then create a situation where it would be seen that the US would be party to escalating the war. The Russians have responded by saying ‘NATO is playing with fire’, and that they deem any cargo ships headed towards Ukraine as a legitimate target.
Biden is keen to state that the weapons are to assist Ukraine in defending themselves, and has sought assurances that the weapons will not be used in recognised (inside) Russian territory (Crimea, Donbas and other occupied regions are not recognised as territories of the Russian Federation). He also states by aiding Ukraine, it allows for negotiations, and is keen to state that the US is not looking to oust Putin from power.
As much as I disagree with Mr Putin... the United States will not try to bring about his ouster. So long as the United States or our allies are not attacked, we will not be directly engaged in this conflict. Biden.
Let us be honest here, the US might not be able to say it publicly, but the chances are the majority of the people believe it would help the situation if Putin was removed from power. Russia is not a democracy after all.
The announcement of the additional weapons appear to be a cause of concern for Russia, and military experts say it is a game changer, as the weapons are more advanced, and it means that Russia may have to retreat.
Germany has been keen to tell the world that they are prepared to give Ukraine heavy weaponry, however, as this promise was made weeks ago, many are wondering when Germany will deliver? Many have mocked Scholz, and asked whether the delivery will be in 5 years time, or at the end of the year? As the battle for Severodonetsk is in full swing, where the Russian outnumber the Ukrainians 7-1, the weapons were needed weeks ago when they were requested.
Scholz has promised in a speech at the Bundestag in Berlin yesterday; medium-range surface-to-air defence systems (which would protect a city from air attacks), a tracking radar which is capable of detecting howitzers, mortars and rocket artillery, and multiple rocket launchers The proviso is that the weapons, like the US would not be used on or targeted at Russian territory.
A chemical plant in Severodonetsk, has been bombed causing the risk of toxic fumes. Residents have been ordered to stay indoors. This seems to be a repeat of Mariupol, yet the promised weapons to assist have not been delivered.
While concerns over leaders wanting Ukraine to cede land continues, Biden has made his position clear:
I will not pressure the Ukrainian government — in private or public — to make any territorial concessions. It would be wrong and contrary to well-settled principles to do so. Biden.
Russia has announced a series of nuclear missile drills in response to the US statement that they will supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry. The Russians call it ‘Strategic Missile Forces’, with the Yars intercontinental missiles. These drill will take place in the Ivanovo region near Moscow, and were announced a few hours after Biden’s announcement.