Ukraine asks for NATO planes, allies talk about ammunition

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine on Tuesday reiterated its appeal for fighter jets to Western nations to help stop the Russian invasion, though the United States and its NATO allies and partners are more concerned about the abundant ammunition that Kiev needs as the end of the first year of war with Russia approaches.

Before the meeting of the contact group with Ukraine at NATO headquarters, Ukraine clearly expressed its demands. When Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was asked what military aid his country was now seeking, he showed reporters a photo of a fighter jet.

When asked where he expected them to come from, he limited himself to answering “from the sky”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy made a strong request for fighter jets during his visit last week to London, Paris and Brussels on his second trip abroad since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. This request is came days after the Western Allies promised to provide tanks to Kiev.

What the NATO allies have in mind, however, is how to maintain a steady supply of ammunition to Ukraine without depleting its stockpiles.

According to some estimates, Ukraine uses up to 6,000-7,000 artillery shells a day, about a third of what Russia uses in a day.

Moscow’s forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine while strengthening their defensive lines in the south. The front has barely moved over the winter, although both sides are expected to launch offensives when the weather clears.

The Russians appear to have limited resources for any major offensive at the moment, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday. “All in all, the current operational situation suggests that Russian forces have been ordered to advance in most sectors, but have not mustered sufficient offensive combat capability on any front to achieve decisive effect,” he said. tweeted the ministry.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said obtaining ammunition and anti-aircraft defenses is “much more important at the moment than discussions about fighters”.

Pistorius told reporters that familiarizing pilots with new aircraft and “just training them to fly takes many months, not to mention teaching them the skills to use the weapons systems.”

Ukraine’s partners, he noted, “need to focus on what’s currently taking center stage, especially in light of the Russian offensive that appears to be taking place.”

Germany has signed an agreement to produce self-propelled ammunition for anti-aircraft guns supplied to Ukraine, after kyiv had problems obtaining ammunition elsewhere, the minister added.

These munitions are crucial for Kyiv to resist Russian attacks, especially those targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in an attempt to disrupt the supply of heating and running water.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday urged Kyiv’s Western allies to increase their military support.

When asked when he expected Russia’s so-called Spring Offensive to begin, Stoltenberg said “the reality is that we have already seen the beginning.”

“To me, that just underscores the importance of deadlines. It is important to equip Ukraine with more weapons,” he told reporters in Brussels. NATO, he added, “sees no indication that President Putin is preparing for peace” and arming Ukraine more quickly could save lives by ending the conflict sooner.