The Russian-Ukrainian War led the Western states to help Ukraine. The United States of America (USA) is one of the leading countries that provide aid to Ukraine. This situation has led to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also supporting the Kiev administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s frequent calls to Ukraine to stop the war and to give Russia what it wants to have been brought back to the agenda. However, Vladimir Zelensky, the head of the Ukrainian Republic, who wanted to take part in the Western wing and tried to save his country from Russian occupation, rejected these calls and asked other countries to increase their support with ammunition and public opinion. In this context, Zelensky, who met with US President Joe Biden, managed to receive a defense aid of $ 2.5 billion with the initiative of the US Congress.[1]
The aid budget is aimed at ensuring the protection of Ukraine against possible air strikes from Russia. The contents of the package consist of 8 Avenger air defense systems, surface-to-air guided missile systems, mines, projectiles, rockets, and other equipment.[2] Against Russia’s military attempt to prevent Ukraine’s inclusion in NATO and the presence of the Western alliance on its borders, the United States has supported and continues to support Ukraine in various ways throughout the process. The latest support package can be seen as the most comprehensive aid package provided by Washington to Ukraine.
After U.S. support, Biden advised Western public opinion and states to increase aid to Ukraine. Various aids are also sent to Ukraine from European Union (EU) and NATO member countries. Britain, for example, which recently left the EU, has openly supported Washington’s call. It also expects other states to show their support. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has previously announced plans to send tanks to Ukraine. After the announcement of the US aid package, Wallace announced that Britain would send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine in addition to tanks.[3]
In addition, Britain’s support does not remain only ammunition support. In a speech, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that they were determined to support the Ukrainian Army until the victory of the war against Russia and described this determination as “strategic resistance”.[4]
As can be understood, the UK-US alliance is clear on Ukraine. Germany, one of the Western states, is reluctant. Following the gathering of the leaders of the World at the Davos Economic Forum, the statements are made without slowing down. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated Germany’s support for Ukraine but preferred to remain in the background and abstain from sending tanks. In this regard, the reason behind Scholz’s abstention was examined in an article [5] prepared by Kate Connoly in the British newspaper The Guardian.
As can be seen in the article, it can be thought that Scholz’s abstention was due to the fact that he had not yet received the full support of the allies and that Germany was worried about being prosecuted for its war past. It can be said that this concern arose on the basis of the recent discomfort with the juxtaposition of the words Germany and war, and the increasing pressure of the world’s states to ship Germany’s Leopard 2 tank type to Ukraine.
The researchers made a similar comment, assessing the reason behind Scholz’s attitude as abstention and stating that this situation would soon change and result in Germany sending the Leopard 2 type tank in support of Ukraine.[6] Indeed, it has been.
As well as Germany’s abstention, NATO forces are increasingly supporting Ukraine. Finally, 11 NATO countries made a statement that they would provide military ammunition support to Ukraine and reiterated their support for Ukraine.[7] The assistance in question includes Poland’s S-60 anti-aircraft missile, consisting of 70,000 rounds of ammunition. Denmark also announced that it would send 19 French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzer ammunition .[8]
The aid provided can be summarized as air defense and tank aids that can provide strong movement on the ground. These aids are carried out in order to enable Ukraine to resist Russia and to keep Europe away from the Russian threat. Ukraine’s loss of the war could lead Putin to become more powerful and continue his expansionist policies. In the face of all these attitudes and increasing support, Russia is making statements aimed at continuing its diplomacy and cutting off support by eliminating its nuclear threat against the West.
As a result, the Russian threat against Ukraine is increasing day by day. Repeated speeches of support and ammunition aid attest to the West’s pro-Ukrainian stance, but various experts say this is not the outcome of the war; It is evaluated in a quality that will affect the duration. Hopes that the war will be completed soon remain optimistic. Because the Russian-Ukrainian War is turning into a war of attrition with each passing day. The aid seems to lead to the prolongation of the war.
[1] Oren Liebermann,Vd. “US Set to Finalize Massive Security Aid Package for Ukraine, Including Stryker Combat Vehicles for the First Time”, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/us-ukraine-tanks/index.html, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[2] “U.S. Security Cooperation with Ukraine”, United States Department of State, https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[3] “Eleven NATO Countries Pledge New Military Aid for Ukraine”, US News, https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-19/eleven-nato-countries-pledge-new-military-aid-for-ukraine, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[4] “James Cleverly Considers Support to Ukraine as “Strategic Strength”, Star, https://www.star.com.tr/dunya/james-cleverly-ukraynaya-destegi-stratejik-mukavemet-olarak-nitelendirdi-haber-1762322/, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[5] “Scholz Stalls on Ukraine Tanks Decision but Looks Poised to Give Go-Ahead”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/scholz-stalls-on-ukraine-tanks-decision-but-looks-poised-to-give-go-ahead/, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[6] “Scholz Stalls on Ukraine Tanks Decision but Looks Poised to Give Go-Ahead”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/scholz-stalls-on-ukraine-tanks-decision-but-looks-poised-to-give-go-ahead/, (Date of Accession: 23.01.2023).
[7] “Eleven NATO Countries…”, op. cit.
[8] Ibid.
