This has been reported by CNN citing the letter sent to US President Joe Biden on Monday, April 4. The appeal, as is known, was signed by over forty officials. According to the letter, the US is urged to provide more weapons, including long-range surface-to-air missiles, fighter aircraft, and anti-ship missiles.
The US lawmakers’ request also includes increasing the supply of Stinger anti-air and Javelin anti-tank missiles that Ukraine is running low on, along with drones that have a greater range so Ukraine can “better disrupt Russian supply lines and counter Russian siege tactics, especially in Eastern Ukraine.”
Read more: “Heavy armor” from Europe: Will Soviet-Era T-72 Tanks Be Transferred to Ukraine from NATO countries?
“We recognize that the United States and its allies and partners have already provided substantial military aid, in response to the Russian invasion, including a portion of the $13.6 billion in emergency funds through the fiscal 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill,” the US lawmakers pointed out. “However, Ukrainians are clear that more needs to be done for Ukraine to win this war.”
The US administration has said the US and NATO allies are providing Ukraine with weapons at a historic pace, sending hundreds of millions worth of equipment since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February. As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, there would soon be 10 anti-tank weapons systems in Ukraine for every Russian tank in Ukrainian territory.
US officials have also emphasized that some of Ukraine`s requests – like fighter jets – aren’t as practical as other needs. The US lawmakers, however, argued that Ukraine is running low on its fighter aircraft.
“Ukraine has more than enough pilots trained to fly additional aircraft if supplied,” the letter said. “Additional aircraft would also allow Ukrainian forces to provide a more adequate defense of urban areas like Kharkiv and Mariupol, where numerous civilian casualties have occurred following Russian attacks.”
As Defense Express reported, the US is expected to help facilitate the transfer of tanks from NATO allies to Ukraine.
Read more: U.S. Training Small Number of Ukrainians on Switchblade UAV
