Delayed aid to Ukraine: a race against time for summer breakthrough

It may not be until summer that most of the air defense systems, ammunition, and heavy equipment can reach Ukraine, reports "The New York Times". The American newspaper emphasizes that delivering military aid "can take months".

President Joe Biden signed a bill in April to aid Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan with a total worth of approximately £77 billion. Ukraine alone will receive military equipment and weapons valued at nearly £49 million.

"Even with £130 billion, Ukraine will not win this war in the traditional sense. It won't defeat Russia, force it to surrender, or give up all territorial claims. The only questions are under what conditions and when a ceasefire will be agreed upon. And what this will mean for Ukraine’s territory. We do not know now, but Ukraine has fought for survival, not to defeat Russia," assessed an Americanist from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Prof. Zbigniew Lewicki.

Ukraine was not helped by the months-long delay in Congress. Republicans for a long time did not want to agree on passing the aid package for Kyiv.

Now it turns out that equipment under the long-awaited package will not immediately reach Ukraine, although Biden announced that "within a few hours" of him signing the document, the US would begin sending equipment. However, this referred to a portion of weapons including anti-tank missiles, rockets, and 155 mm ammunition.

"NYT" reached American officials who anonymously disclosed that most weapons will not reach Ukraine until the end of May, but it is possible that it will even be later. Additionally, analysts noted that Kyiv may stabilize the situation on the front only by the end of the year. A breakthrough during summer is not ruled out. Much depends, among other things, on the training of Ukrainian soldiers in the use of the new weapons. At the end of April, 70 Ukrainian soldiers went to Germany, where they will undergo training in the operation of the Patriot system used for anti-aircraft and missile defense. The German air forces undergo a nine-month course.