US and Germany to supply Ukraine with advanced weapons

Germany said it would supply Ukraine with antiaircraft missiles and radar systems, while the United States announced it would provide four sophisticated middle-ray missile systems of action and ammunition.

The United States is trying to help Ukraine repel the Russians without causing a broader fight in Europe. The Pentagon said it received assurances that Ukraine would not use new missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Kremlin accused Washington of having “turned gasoline into fire”.

Western weapons have been critical of Ukraine's success in containing Russia's much larger and more equipped army, hindering its efforts to invade the capital and forcing Moscow to shift its focus to the industrial region of Donbas in the country's east.

But as Russia bombarded the cities east of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodyyr Zelensky repeatedly demanded more weapons, better weapons, and accused the West of moving too slowly.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, welcomed reports of sending new weapons from the West. “

New weapons can help Ukraine create and maintain new lines of protection in the east by hitting Russian artillery that have bombed the cities of this region and restricting Russian air strikes, retired French General Dominique Trinquand, a former French general who served in UN military missions, said.

NATO's “, European and American countries expanded the means and weapons they are giving to Ukraine, and this escalation has been intended to test Russia's” response, he said. If there is no response, they continue to supply more and more efficient and sophisticated weapons. ”

Military analysts say Russia hopes to invade Donbas before reaching weapons that could change the situation on the ground. It will take at least three weeks to send accurate American weapons and train Ukrainian troops to use them on the battlefield, the Pentagon said. But Undersecretary of Defence Colin Kahl said he believes they will arrive in time to make a change in the field of battle.

Missile systems are part of a new $700 million military aid package for Ukraine from the United States, which also includes helicopters, antitank “Javelin”, radar, tactical vehicles, spare parts and other equipment.

Missiles have an action ray of about 50 miles [80 km] and can easily be moved from one place to another. Ukraine has unsuccessfully insisted on providing action-ray missiles of about 300km.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow does not trust guarantees that Ukraine will not shoot in the direction of Russian territory. “We believe the United States is deliberately throwing gasoline at the fire”, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine's push for more weapons is a “direct approval intended to draw the West into combat”. He warned that the numerous missiles would increase the risk of an expanded conflict.

Reasonable Western politicians clearly understand these risks”, he added.

Promise from Germany to offer air defence systems “IRIS-T” would mark the first shipment of long-range air defence weapons in Ukraine since the start of the war there.

Germany has been criticised, both inside and by allies abroad, that it is not doing enough to help Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers that the land-air missiles “IRIS-T” are the most modern air defence system in the country.

With this, we will enable Ukraine to protect an entire city from Russian air strikes”, he said. radar systems will also help Ukraine locate enemy artillery.

Reports of the weapons came as a regional governor said Russian forces now control 80% of Sievierodonnetsk, a town that is key to Moscow's efforts to complete the conquest of the Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces and separatists supported by Russia have been fighting for years. Part of this region was controlled by pro-Russian seperatists before Russia began attacking Ukraine in February of this year.