The warning from Kiev is clear: the Ukrainian armed forces do not have enough weapons and ammunition in the fight against Russia. In the midst of this call for help, Washington is now placing an arms order worth millions. According to the US Army, the first delivery should not be long in coming.
The US government has awarded a defense contract worth more than $500 million to two companies that will use the money to produce artillery ammunition for the Ukrainian army. The US Army announced that the first ammunition from this order should be delivered as early as next month.
The announcement comes amid warnings from Kiev that Ukrainian forces may not have enough weapons and ammunition to fight Russia. The US armaments order that has now been placed goes to the two companies Northrop Grumman Systems and Global Military Products. It has a total value of 522 million dollars (486 million euros). Both sides are using vast amounts of artillery ammunition in the fighting in Ukraine.
Last November, a US official estimated that Russian troops are firing around 20,000 rounds a day. The Ukrainian army fires 4,000 to 7,000 rounds a day - more than the western allies can deliver. According to experts, the frequency has since fallen due to the winter and a lack of supplies on both sides. But Ukraine still lacks supplies.
Only on Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "The current frequency of ammunition consumption in Ukraine is many times higher than our current production rate." With regard to the possible delivery of fighter jets, Stoltenberg said that the discussion is ongoing, but that this is not the most pressing issue.
An important question was what systems would be supplied to Ukraine, and this debate developed as the war progressed. "But it's also extremely important to ensure that any systems already delivered are working as they should." In addition to ammunition, Stoltenberg spoke of spare parts and maintenance. In addition, it is urgently necessary to deliver the weapons that have already been promised.
