While Ukraine has been ramping up its efforts to strengthen its defence industry and reduce its reliance on American support, Ukrainian sources acknowledge that they don’t have an alternative to certain high-tech American systems like Patriot air defences, the BCC reports.
These comments follow President Donald Trump’s temporary suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, just days after his explosive confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
In a statement yesterday Zelensky expressed his regret over his spat with Trump, saying the meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to”, and that it was “time to make things right”.
Ukraine was ready to work at ending the war with Russia. He thanked the US for its support throughout the war, adding that Kyiv was “ready” to sign the US-proposed minerals deal.
He did not directly address the US decision to suspend aid to Ukraine.
The suspension affects more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order. It is reported that the directive will remain in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine has demonstrated a good-faith commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.
Moscow cautiously welcome the move.
According to Reuters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cautious about the reports of a pause in US military aid and said the details needed to be seen.
But he is quoted as saying: “If this is true, then this is a decision that can really encourage the Kyiv regime to (come to) the peace process.”
In Kyiv, Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, said his country was “firmly determined to continue co-operating with the United States”.
According to the BBC, he told a news conference yesterday that Ukraine “will continue through diplomatic and other channels available” to work with the US to “make sure that Ukraine and the United States continue fighting for lasting peace”.
He says US military aid is “critical”, adding that American support has saved thousands of Ukrainian lives.
The BBC reports that while Ukrainian forces still depend on the US for critical systems like air defence and long-range missiles, Ukrainian officials stress they have made significant progress in domestic weapons production.
Government sources say 40% of the weapons being used on the frontline are now produced in Ukraine. They hope last year’s US$9bn in defence output will double in the coming years.
They hail drone production as a major success.
The BBC cites a senior Ukrainian defence official as saying that 95% of reconnaissance, strike, and “first-person view” drones are now assembled domestically, instead of being imported from China or the US.
Ukraine now fully meets its needs for armoured vehicles, mortars, and artillery systems, according to Vladyslav Belbas, the head of leading private defence firm, Ukraine Armour. Domestic factories also supply much of the country’s Soviet-calibre ammunition.
However, the BBC reports that Ukrainian sources acknowledge that they don’t have an alternative to certain high-tech American systems like Patriot air defences.
As the world reacted to the US decision to suspend military aid to Kyiv, Moscow continued its attacks, with Ukraine’s Air Force reporting that 99 drones had been launched into the country by Russia on Monday night.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ministryofdefenceua/26382622234]