“Ukraine will limit Russia’s offensive if US aid arrives quickly”

Ukraine will be able to limit the scope of the Russian military’s offensive if US aid arrives quickly. She stated it the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The American think tank underlined that, although the Russians are preparing for a new military offensive during the summer months, Ukraine will probably be able to mitigate the consequences of the new attacks if it receives the expected military aid from the United States in a timely manner.

Regardless, it will take weeks for American aid to arrive on the battlefield and make a difference. In that time, Ukraine will likely lose ground to Russia, the ISW assessed. Moscow could also ”take advantage of the limited period before the arrival of new US aid” to intensify its attacks, the analysis continues. Russia is reportedly preparing the mobilization of 300,000 soldiers by June 1st.

Delivery times. Zelensky sees ‘possible victory’

According to the Washington Post, it will take less than a week – at the definitive conclusion of the process in Congress – for some of the weapons to reach the front. The Pentagon already has everything ready, awaiting the final green light.

Now Zelensky sees “a chance of victory.” “I think this support will really help the armed forces of Ukraine,” he tells NBC. “And we will have a chance to win if Ukraine really gets the weapons systems that we need so much. Some really crucial systems that are difficult to get…”, he adds, stressing that especially long-range missiles are indispensable .

“We need them, we need them so as not to lose men at the front. We have victims because we cannot hit far enough, our weapons are not able to reach that far. We need these weapons and air defense systems, these are the priorities,” he reiterates. Everything or almost everything “depends on when we will have the weapons available on the field. Now we have the possibility to stabilize the situation and take the initiative, that’s why we need these weapons”.

What’s in the US aid package

The House of Representatives said yes last Saturday to the Ukrainian Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, the law that provides aid to Kiev for 60.8 billion dollars. The measure, approved with 311 votes in favor and 112 against, provides in detail 14 billion which will allow Ukraine to directly purchase weapons and defense systems. the largest portion, around 23 billion, will be used to replenish United States warehouses and hangars in view of transfers of vehicles and weapons to Kiev. Over 11 billion will be used to guarantee funds for American military operations in the region, with the possibility of supporting Ukrainian military capabilities and intelligence collaboration between Kiev and Washington. Around 8 billion, however, will be used for non-military assistance: the resources, for example, will allow the Ukrainian government to continue operating and will make it possible to pay salaries and pensions.

What Russia says

If Zelensky thanks the USA, Russia has obviously stigmatized the new American intervention. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Washington’s aid “will further ruin Ukraine, causing the deaths of more Ukrainians through the fault of the Kiev regime.”

In addition to funding for Ukraine, the House also approved provisions for the reuse of Russian assets frozen in the United States and the use of the money to benefit Kiev. The United States “will have to answer for it”, comments Peskov, stating that Russia will do so in the way that “best suits our interests”.

As a corollary, the reflections in the usual tones of Dmitry Medvedev, vice president of the Security Council. “We will win despite the 61 billion bloody dollars that will fatten the insatiable American military industrial complex.” “Strength and truth are on our side.”