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The
newest bundle for Ukraine, introduced on Dec. 27, included $250 million in artillery, air defenses and different weapons.
Wallander spoke to reporters after a digital assembly of the U.S.-led Ukraine Protection Contact Group, a coalition of worldwide navy and protection chiefs centered on supporting Ukraine. The Pentagon sometimes publicizes main packages of assist for Ukraine after every contact group assembly, however that was not the case on Tuesday as a result of lack of a supplemental.
DOD had began parceling out assist in smaller packages this previous fall in anticipation of the funds drying up, Wallander mentioned. Whereas the U.S. continues to be delivering weapons to Ukraine from the latest tranche of assist, that slowdown had already begun affecting the Ukrainian navy’s planning and operations, she added.
Now, the Ukrainian authorities has advised the Protection Division it’s involved that models are working low on ammunition, Wallander mentioned.
“With out funding, we’d not be capable of match the tempo that we’ve got supplied Ukraine with because the begin of this battle,” Wallander mentioned.
DOD can proceed to fill current orders below contract by utilizing funds from the Ukraine Safety Help Initiative. However that’s on a smaller scale than the weapons DOD had been offering immediately from current shares, Wallander mentioned.
That’s why the Pentagon is targeted on “the necessity to reply Congress’s questions in order that they can transfer ahead on a call to move a supplemental,” she mentioned.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder additionally mentioned the shortage of funding compelled the Pentagon to “pause” sending extra weapons from its inventories “given the implications for our personal navy readiness.”
“This in fact prevents us from assembly essentially the most pressing battlefield wants, to incorporate issues like artillery rounds, anti-tank weapons, air protection interceptors,” Ryder advised reporters Tuesday.
The dearth of extra funding additionally prevents DOD from with the ability to present Ukraine the programs and tools it must construct its navy over the long run, in addition to to assist them maintain the programs the U.S. has already supplied, Ryder added.
“The battle hasn’t died down,” Wallander mentioned. “And actually, the depth stays excessive primarily based on Russian exercise.”
Russia has continued to bombard Ukrainian troopers and civilians with ballistic and cruise missiles, in addition to assault drones, to attempt to overwhelm their air protection capabilities, Wallander mentioned.
Along with ammunition and artillery shells, Ukraine urgently wants interceptors to defend in opposition to the Russian assaults, she mentioned.
One piece of fine information is that the worldwide effort to offer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is constant on tempo, Wallander mentioned. A number of Ukrainian pilots are being skilled at an Air Power base within the U.S., and the goal is for Ukraine to start working the jets later this yr.
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