Fewer US weapons for Ukraine: the ramifications?
The US government plans to halt deliveries of certain weapons to Ukraine. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Wednesday that a comprehensive review was underway to determine which weapons systems would be affected, but that there were still robust options for the provision of military aid to the country. Commentators discuss motives and potential consequences.
Making it easier for Putin to kill
People will pay for this decision with their lives, Handelsblatt warns:
“The halted weapons supplies include deliveries of Patriot missiles, which Ukraine needs for air defence, especially against ballistic missiles. ... With an adequate air defence the Ukrainian army can intercept or shoot down these weapons before they hit homes, schools, pharmacies and hospitals. ... Ukraine has ever fewer defence weapons at its disposal. The consequence is clear: with poorer air defence even more civilians, elderly people and children will die for no reason. The upshot: US President Donald Trump is making it easier for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to kill Ukrainians.”
US president playing poker again
For La Repubblica, it is highly questionable whether this latest move by Trump will push Putin towards negotiations:
“Trump's surprise move of suspending deliveries of air defence weapons to Kyiv is an obvious attempt to get it to resume negotiations with Putin. As in a poker game, Trump wants to get his opponent to reconsider his 'nyet'. And he is doing this without any consideration for Ukraine and the European allies because he sees the game with Putin as one between two opponents. However the Kremlin leader appears to be rejecting the US president's advance once again. 'Russia will not give up its goals in Ukraine,' Putin says.”
Upping pressure on Ukraine
Trump wants to influence Ukraine rather than Russia, says Ilta-Sanomat:
“The announced pauses in deliveries are unlikely to have a decisive impact on the situation at the front. However Russia is intensifying its attacks along the long front line. ... So it's easy to see the US decision as a means of exerting pressure on Ukraine to make concessions. This would accelerate the process of agreeing a ceasefire and perhaps even peace. A tough package of sanctions against Russia is currently being prepared in the US Congress, but it is subject to Trump's approval. So far he seems to be finding it easier to up the pressure on Ukraine.”
These arms will be used against Iran
The US weapons are being diverted for more attacks on Iran, political scientist Nikolay Mitrokhin surmises on Facebook:
“The temporary - according to Washington - suspension of deliveries of air defence missiles and Himars rockets to Ukraine is an unmistakable sign that this military equipment will be used against a different target - Iran. A few days ago, Iran officially withdrew from IAEA monitoring. At the same time, Trump announced that another secret facility in Iran's nuclear programme may exist. The enriched uranium is hidden. According to the all information available, the facilities have not been suffered enough damage to put a stop to the programme. In short, a second strike is inevitable.”
Trump's decision could backfire
The pause in weapons deliveries will also have consequences for Washington, political scientist Petro Oleshchuk stresses in Unian:
“Of course, such a decision really does look like the US is using this means to exert pressure on Ukraine. On the other hand this is a very special instrument, because at the same time it leaves the US looking like an unreliable partner that is not providing supplies that have already been agreed for political reasons. ... So this whole game is a double-edged sword. If, for example, the US were to completely stop supplying missiles for the Patriot systems and the Russians were to intensify their shelling of Ukrainian cities against this backdrop, it could be politically risky for the Trump administration - at the purely domestic level.”
Wooing Washington is pointless
We're now seeing just how unreliable the US is as an ally, political scientist Oleksandr Kraiev notes on Facebook:
“We reached an agreement on raw materials, one that was balanced and took the interests of both sides into account. We began to play along with Trump - addressing him, quoting him, pointing out that he is right and plays a prominent role. Just the way he likes it. ... The Nato summit was also tailored to Trump's interests. We played along at the G7 summit - despite Trump's infantile behaviour. And now this is the result. This would also appear to be a very good lesson for Taiwan, Israel, Europe and all those who consider Trump their 'partner and friend'.”