As the war between Russia and Ukraine keeps intensifying after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into its neighbouring country, several other countries across the globe are sending military aid to Kyiv, Ukraines’ capital.
The move by other countries to supply military aid to Ukraine intends to lift the growing pressure of Putin’s Russian troops on Zelenskyy’s Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s Health Ministry, the conflict has killed more than 350 civilians since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.
The UN’s Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also believes at least 368,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, mostly, Poland. Report by UNHCR also said some 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed.
So, which countries are sending military assistance to Ukraine?
United States
On February 25, 2022, President Joe Biden instructed the State Department to release up to an additional $350m worth of weapons from US stocks to Ukraine.
In a memorandum to Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350m allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine’s defence.
Ukraine has been asking for Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft.
The Pentagon said the weapons included anti-armour, small arms, body armour and various munitions in support of Ukraine’s front-line defenders. A State Department spokesperson said anti-aircraft systems were also included in the material.
Over the past year, the United States has committed more than $1bn in security assistance to Ukraine, Blinken averred.
United Kingdom
In January 2022, UK’s Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, disclosed that Britain has “taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapon systems”.
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Downing Street promised military support to Ukraine, including lethal defensive weapons.
“In light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia and in line with our previous support, the UK will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament.
“This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
France
France on the other hand has already sent help, by dispatching more military equipment as well as fuel.
According to Paris, it acted on earlier Ukrainian requests for defensive anti-aircraft and digital weapons.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands will supply air defence rockets and anti-tank systems to Ukraine, the Dutch government noted in letters to parliament on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
The Dutch government agreed to a Ukrainian request to rapidly ship 200 Stinger air defence rockets and 50 “Panzerfaust 3” anti-tank weapons with 400 rockets, a response letter to Ukraine noted.
The Netherlands said it is jointly considering sending a Patriot air defence system alongside Germany to a NATO battle group in Slovakia.
Germany
Germany will be supplying Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks for defence against Russia.
It is a major shift from Berlin’s longstanding policy of banning weapon exports to a conflict zone.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin’s invading army,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday, February 25, 2022.
Canada
Ottawa is sending lethal military weaponry to Ukraine and loaning Kyiv half a billion Canadian dollars ($394m) to help it defend itself.
Sweden
Stockholm is also breaking its historic neutral stance to send 5,000 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine as well as field rations and body armour.
It is the first time Sweden will send weapons to a country in armed conflict since the Soviet Union invaded neighbouring Finland in 1939.
Belgium
Belgium says it will supply Ukraine with 3,000 more automatic rifles and 200 anti-tank weapons, as well as 3,800 tonnes of fuel.
Portugal
Portugal is giving Ukraine night-vision goggles, bulletproof vests, helmets, grenades, ammunition and automatic G3 rifles.
Greece
Greece, which has a large diaspora community in Ukraine,10 of whom are already killed, is sending “defence equipment” as well as humanitarian aid.
Romania
Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, is also offering to treat wounded people from the crisis zones in its 11 military hospitals as well as sending fuel, bulletproof vests, helmets and other military materials worth $3.3m.
Spain
The Spanish government has promised to send 20 tonnes of aid to Ukraine, mostly medical and defensive equipment such as bulletproof vests.
Czech Republic
Czech’s capital, Prague said it is sending Ukraine 4,000 mortars “in the next few hours” as well as an arsenal of 30,000 pistols, 7,000 assault rifles, 3,000 machine guns, many sniper rifles and a million bullets.
The Czechs have already promised Kyiv 4,000 mortars worth $1.6m which are yet to be delivered.
It should be noted that the support provided by neighbouring nations to Ukraine are coming from 13 NATO member countries, out of the total 30.
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