Ukraine is preparing for a counter-offensive against the Russian aggressor, with further US aid.
The White House has announced a new package of artillery ammunition worth almost 297 million euros. Ammunition is mainly supplied for weapon systems such as the Himars multiple rocket launchers and artillery shells.
“We already have very good anti-aircraft systems and other weapons to protect Ukrainian airspace. But they need to become even more effective, and I’m sure they will,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Attacks from Belarus expected?
According to Selenskyj, new troops are being deployed for front-line deployment. On Wednesday he visited border troops in the Ukraine-Poland-Belarus border triangle.
That could indicate that attacks are expected from neighboring Belarus, Russia’s key ally.
Border troops from Ukraine are already deployed on the fronts, including in the heavily contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
“Together with all our defense and security forces, the border guards are fighting at the front, even in the most difficult areas,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
“We are also preparing new units – border guard units – to join our active operations, to join the movement that we are gradually developing.”
The soldiers are real heroes, according to Selenskyj. For their deployment on the front line in the fight against Russian troops, Ukrainian soldiers receive 100,000 hryvnia, or around 2,500 euros, a month in addition to their military pay. This was announced by the Ukrainian military leadership on Wednesday in order to end speculation about pay and allowances.
Sweden a NATO member before July?
Ahead of the NATO summit in July, US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin, during his visit to Sweden, called on Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s application for NATO membership.
He said this will mean a stronger alliance and a safer Europe. “We recently welcomed Finland as the 31st member of NATO, and we look forward to welcoming Sweden as the 32nd soon,” Austin said.
Under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Sweden applied for NATO membership in parallel with Finland in May 2022. Finland officially became a member two weeks ago following the approval of all NATO members. Sweden, on the other hand, is still missing ratifications from Turkey and Hungary.
Source: Euronews