The United States asserted that it hasmultiple routes” to deliver its military assistance to Ukraine, following last weekend’s Russian bombardment of a military base in western Ukraine, just 20 kilometers from the Polish border.
The Pentagon does not see that this attack, which caused 35 deaths and 134 injuries, is “a turning point” in the conflict, started on February 24 by Russia.
This was stated by the spokesman for the United States Department of Defense, John Kirby, who ruled out that this Russian bombardment and other similar ones against points in western Ukraine will lead to a change in the situation.
“Clearly the Russians are expanding some of their targets, that’s obvious.”observed Kirby, who assured that the Russians are frustrated by the strong Ukrainian resistance and the lack of progress on the ground.
There were no Americans on the base
The United States confirmed that there were no U.S. soldiers, civilians or contractors at the attacked Ukrainian base, the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Ukraine, in Yavoriv, where the Florida National Guard had been training Ukrainian troops before they left a couple of weeks ago.
Kirby pointed out that, according to the data available to him, the bombardment was carried out with cruise missiles launched from long distances by Russian aircraft.
On Sunday, the US embassy in kyiv, which currently operates in Lviv, in western Ukraine, pointed out that international instructors from “The United States, Poland, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Canada and others trained Ukrainian forces”.
Without wanting to offer details, Kirby said that none of the routes to bring military assistance into Ukraine have been affected: “I will just say that we have multiple routes to get security assistance in the hands of the Ukrainians,” the spokesman said.
In fact, the US Department of Defense does not believe that the Russian bombing of that base was aimed at delivering international security assistance to Ukraine.
“We do not see this bombing as an effort against the distribution of security aid to Ukraine.”, Considered Kirby, who did not offer data on the way in which his country is getting that assistance to the Ukrainians.
In that sense, he only clarified that the United States will continue to deliver aid to the Ukrainians as quickly as possible and “in the most efficient and effective way”: “There are several ways we are doing it”, he remarked.
200 million more for weapons
US President Joe Biden on Saturday authorized the use of $200 million to help Ukraine with weapons and military equipment to defend itself against Russian invasion troops.
With this additional $200 million, the total money provided by the United States in military aid to Ukraine so far this year amounts to $1.2 billion.
The new aid package includes Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles that the US military already has in Europe and will arrive in Ukraine overland from neighboring Poland and Romania.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has reiterated on several occasions his call for the allies to establish a no-fly zone over his country, which has been rejected by the United States and NATO for fear that the conflict will expand in Europe.
Kirby stressed on Monday that Ukrainian airspace continues to be “disputed”. “We continue to assess that Russia does not have air superiority over Ukraine and that the Ukrainians are skillfully defending the airspace”, he stressed.
The spokesman explained that this is possible because the Ukrainians are finding a way to continue defending the country’s skies while protecting their own mobility and maneuvering in the airspace.
Zelenski, in search of international help
As part of his efforts to garner international support, Zelenski will address the Canadian Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday, virtually, and the two chambers of the United States Congress on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, given the information that appeared in the media about a possible Biden trip to Europe, which could include a stop in Brussels, presidential spokeswoman Jen Psaki indicated this Monday in her daily press conference that a final decision has not yet been made. about.
“We are of course collaborating closely with our NATO partners and European allies. You will have heard us speak several times about the steps to be taken in diplomacy, whether it would be to provide more humanitarian (aid) or security systems, or the mechanism for future talks, but a final decision on the trip has not yet been made.”, he acknowledged.
The one who will travel safely to the European continent is the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, who will begin a visit on Tuesday that will take him to Brussels to participate in Wednesday’s NATO ministerial meeting.
There, Austin wants to talk to the Alliance partners about the strategy for “augment and support deterrence capabilities” on the eastern European flank, Kirby clarified.
From Brussels he will leave for Slovakia and later he will travel to Bulgaria to meet with political and military officials from both countries.
Source: Gestion
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