“Despite all the peaceful efforts of President Donald Trump, the war in Ukraine continues and the peace on the horizon is not visible. Moreover, the fighting is only intensifies, and shelling of Ukrainian cities become more and more deadly. In this context, the question arises about further supply of weapons for the Armed Forces. The main donor all these years was America but packages”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
Despite all the peaceful efforts of President Donald Trump, the war in Ukraine continues and the peace on the horizon is not visible. Moreover, the fighting is only intensifies, and shelling of Ukrainian cities become more and more deadly.
In this context, the question arises about further supply of weapons for the Armed Forces. The main donor all these years was America, but the packages adopted during the Baiden administration are completed in the coming weeks. The new US authorities have repeatedly made it clear that there would be no free deliveries.
But at the same time disappointed in Putin Trump has already stated that he was ready to sell this weapon. In particular, it was about Patriot air defense systems – but not only. Western media They write that America can sell small and medium -range missiles, artillery shells, military equipment, etc.
However, Ukraine itself is not capable of purchasing most of this nomenclature due to lack of funds. In addition, the American leader does not want to violate his election promises and personally get involved in the war between Kiev and Moscow. And he clearly does not want to spoil his relationship with the Russian dictator.
Therefore, the scheme is as follows: EU and NATO countries buy new weapons in the United States, after which they either pass it on to Ukraine or leave it, giving the Armed Forces their own older samples. The paper looks like a working option, but in practice, problems have already begun in this case and a bureaucratic and financial red tape.
How do European partners of Ukraine “hinder” a new scheme for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine and why is it happening? UA.news political observer Nikita Trachuk He understood the question.
US position
Even before his victory in the election, Donald Trump accused Biden and his administration of distributing US weapons and taxpayers’ money just like that. Trump himself promised to finish the war quickly (which he did not work out) and stop the allocation of US funds for confrontation between Ukraine and Russia. It was one of the basics of his election program.
However, recently, President of America made it clear that Putin was very much disappointed and his constant terrorization of Ukrainian cities. “These guys need protection,” Trump said, referring to Ukraine’s protection against air attacks. Therefore, he promised to sell (not to pass!) Patriot system and maybe something else.
Kyiv, of course, wants rockets like Jassm or Tomahawk from the states. However, the American leader has already said that it would not be.
The problem is that it does not even want to sell weapons to Ukraine Trump. After all, he promised his electorate not to interfere in the war. So he wants to sell the products of American MIC partners in Europe – and then, they say, not my business. More: the US will also earn it, says Trump. After all, only one Patriot complex costs a billion dollars.
Ukraine agrees to this scheme, which President Zelensky has repeatedly spoken. I also agree to NATO, what He said Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte. However, in practice, everything turned out to be much more difficult, and there are now signs of serious problems in this matter.
The position of Europeans
As of today, from a dozen European countries, most of which are key or simply important arms suppliers for the Armed Forces, have made statements regarding the purchase of weapons in the US and further transfer to Ukraine. And most of these statements are not too optimistic yet.
Berlin is one of Kyiv’s main partners in Europe. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made it clear that Patriot Ukraine is in the near future will not receive. The reason is their small number in the Bundesver warehouses.
“We only have six Patriots left in Germany … The other two installations were provided to Poland, and at least one has always been inaccessible through maintenance or training. This is really too little, especially given NATO’s goals about the opportunities we have to achieve. We cannot give exactly (Ukraine – ed.) More », – said the head of the German defense department in a recent interview.
However, later it became known that Germany is ready buy For Ukraine, at least one or even two Patriot systems and the corresponding missiles to them. But first you need to negotiate with Trump on the price, because by transferring its system, Berlin should replace it with the same new for the Bundesver. This process can take a long time.
The United Kingdom is also an important partner of Ukraine. She is ready buy In the US, F-35 fighters are capable of carrying tactical nuclear charges. London considers this a guarantee of effective restraint of the Russian Federation.
However, all this British want to buy for themselves, not for Ukraine. After all, the British MIC is interested in producing weapons itself, not just buying it from America and then passing it to someone. Recently, London and Kyiv have signed an agreement to supply 5,000 missiles for Ukrainian air defense.
“This allows you to put more than 5,000 air defense missiles from the British Thales, which will not only significantly strengthen the UK’s defensive opportunities, but also allow Ukraine to continue the struggle by increasing its defense against the illegal full -scale invasion of Russia,” – said in an official message.
The amount of the transaction is £ 2.5 billion. However, the contract itself is designed for… 19 years. On average, it is only 263 rockets a year. To understand the scale: nowadays more than 500-600 air purposes can fly in Ukraine for one night. Experts also say that soon as a Shahmed only Russia will be able to run up to 1000 units for one attack.
Another key European partner of our country is France. But Paris also made a Criticism Initiatives on the procurement of American weapons for Ukraine. The reason is the lack of additional funds in the country’s budget. And the money they are, the French are ready to invest exclusively in their own production.
French President Emmanuel Macron has long insisted on that Europeans build their own defense industry. In addition, France has been historically special, more “free” relations with states and NATOs since the time of General de Gaulle. It is more focused on its own development, and in the second place – on partnership with the Alliance.
“According to two French officials who are aware of this issue, Paris will not join the initiative to buy US weapons for this reason. The French government also tries to increase its own costs for o harrows trying to reduce the budget and hold back your deficit ”, – They write Politico journalists.
A similar problem with Italy. Rome does not plan to buy weapons in the United States and transfer it to Ukraine. This was reported by the media.
La Stampa claims One of the reasons is that the Italian weapons that have already been provided to Kiev or can be provided in the future are based on other technological configurations and will not be compatible with American equipment. But even more important is the lack of funds.
The only purchases of American weapons that Italy plans is an previously announced F-35 aircraft aircraft. The only thing that the Italians are ready for is to provide logistics for the supply of American weapons to Ukraine. This is now being discussed in the country’s Defense Ministry. But that’s all.
Even the Czech Republic, which is a very important and reliable partner for Ukraine, has abandoned the initiative to purchase weapons in the United States. Prime Minister of the country Petr Fiala stated that Prague does not reach this scheme.
“The Czech Republic focuses on other projects and ways of assistance to Ukraine – for example, through initiative on ammunition. Therefore, we do not currently consider the possibility of joining this project, ” Said Fial.
Similar statements were also made by the neighbors of Ukraine: Slovakia and Hungary. However, no one expected from Bratislava and Budapest, given the well -known anti -Ukrainian position of Fitzo and Orban.
However, there are also positive signals from other partners of Kiev. Denmark and Sweden ready To buy rockets for Patriot systems in the USA and transfer them to Ukraine. Both Copenhagen and Stockholm have already voiced the relevant statements in the media.
Why Europe doesn’t want to buy a weapon in the US
It is really difficult to argue that European partners mostly demonstrate a restraint in the financing of weapons purchases in the US for Ukraine. This process has quite rational causes.
First, the financial capabilities of many EU countries are exhausted: against the background of inflation, high social costs and threats of recession in the economies of leading states-in particular Germany, France, Italy-further increase in assistance to Ukraine is perceived as a burden. Western European states have been supporting Ukraine financially, humanitarian and military for more than three years, investing billions of euros, but the main financial load has been in the United States. And now that the United States demands that Europe take part of the cost of purchasing US weapons, Europeans perceive it as transferring a burden from one shoulder to another, without taking into account their and so limited capabilities.
Secondly, an important reason is the strategic desire for individual European countries to reduce its military dependence on the United States. Since the beginning of a full -scale war, weapons in Europe began to develop their own MIC more actively, investing in national production and cooperation within the EU. European leaders are increasingly articulating the need to create “European defense autonomy”, fearing that the full dependence on the US in weapons and security will deprive them of political subjectivity and leave vulnerable in the event of changes in Washington’s foreign policy.
In the end, third, it is not necessary to ignore the political “front” within the European Union, which frankly opposes the continuation of Ukraine’s support. Among the striking examples is Hungary, which consistently blocks or delays the decision to fund assistance in Kiev, as well as Slovakia, where after the arrival of Robert Fitzo came to power, the same began.
In part, individual political forces in the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, etc. are also involved in this line. In the shadow of this front, there are some conservative elites of Germany, who, without speaking publicly, resist Berlin’s excessive involvement in the war. Such resistance is often associated with pragmatic calculations: the preservation of energy, economic or political contacts with Russia for the future.
In addition, for some European countries, the current level of support of Ukraine has become marginal due to political fatigue. The ratings of trust in national governments fall, and populist and nationalist forces are winning in the elections, which require a return to internal problems.
All this forms a situation in which even the most pro -Ukrainian governments are forced to balance between the obligations to the Allies and the pressure of their own electorate, not wanting to waste money on the purchase of other people’s weapons in the face of their own financial difficulties. And this is one of the key challenges for Ukrainian defense.