The U.S. and Germany announced on Wednesday, June 1, that they would be supplying Ukraine with some of the most advanced war weapons that can shoot down an aircraft and take down artillery to help the country as Russian forces are on the brink of capturing a key city in eastern Ukraine.
"Fuel on the Fire"
According to AP's report, Germany will send its highly advanced and up-to-date radar and anti-craft systems to Ukraine. The United States announced on Tuesday that it would also be supplying the eastern European country with four sophisticated and medium-range rocket systems and ammunitions.
The U.S. sent these advanced weapons to help Ukraine defend its territories from Russian forces without provoking a broader war in Europe. The Pentagon noted that Ukraine assured that it would not launch the rockets into Russian territory.
However, the Kremlin did not receive this news lightly and accused Washington of "pouring fuel on the fire."
The supply of weapons from the West has been helping Ukraine in preventing Russia's expansive and better-equipped military. Back in April, Ukraine successfully stymied Moscow's forces in taking over the capital and forced them to storm the industrial Donbas region located in the east.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has constantly asked countries to supply them with weapons as Russia is almost taking over the towns in the east. Zelensky also urged the West to "stop playing around" and impose stricter sanctions on Russia to finally end the war.
But on Wednesday, the head of the Ukrainian president's office Andriy Yermak welcomed the new Western weapons and said that with "all the necessary weapons" and "efficient sanctions," their country would win.
All About the Rocket Systems
The new rocket systems were part of the $700 million packages of security assistance provided by the U.S. for Ukraine. The package will also include the following: helicopters, radars, Javelin anti-tank weapon systems, tactical vehicles, spare parts, and other weapons, as noted by AP.
The rockets are equipped with a range of about 50 miles or 80 kilometers and are also highly mobile. According to AP, Ukraine has failed previously with rockets that have a range of up to 186 miles or 300 kilometers.
Although the Pentagon never disclosed the number of rockets, it will send to Ukraine. It is reported that the U.S. will be providing four of its truck-mounted HIMARS systems, wherein each one of them holds a container with six precision-guided rockets that can travel about 45 miles or 70 kilometers.
Germany's Air Defense Systems
Meanwhile, Germany's promise to send its IRIS-T air defense systems would be the first to deliver long-range air defense weapons to Kyiv since the invasion broke out.
Kyiv, for the past few months, has received portable, shoulder-fired air defense missiles to shoot down helicopters and any low-lying aircraft.
The delivery is in response to criticisms that Germany has not been doing enough to help Ukraine. The country's Chancellor Olaf Scholz claimed that the IRIS-T's surface-to-air missiles are the most updated air defense system that Germany owns.
Furthermore, he added that their radar systems could help Kyiv in locating their enemy's artillery.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
