Two weeks following the entry of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory, many states have already sent arms and ammunition to come to the aid of Kiev. While the United States is one of the main arms suppliers, several European Union countries have also released funds to send defensive military equipment and armaments to Ukraine. Overview.
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In the fall of 2021, Washington had already released $60 million in military assistance to Ukraine, then $200 million more in December, for weapons and ammunition. On February 26, the Pentagon released a new military aid of 350 million dollars in order to “provide urgently (…) the necessary ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles”, an American official told Congress. On March 4, the United States assured that it had already delivered more than two thirds of the weapons promised since February.
On the other side of the Atlantic, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced on January 17 his intention to “provide Ukraine with light anti-tank defense weapons systems”.
In the European Union: Germany at the head of the procession
At European level, the European Union has undertaken to release 450 million euros for sending military assistance to Kiev. It was Germany that got the ball rolling by authorizing, from February 26, the export of lethal weapons for the first time since the end of the Second World War, including armored vehicles, 1,000 anti-tank rocket launchers and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. A government source indicated on March 2 that 2,700 additional anti-aircraft missiles would soon be delivered. Deliveries of rocket launchers will be made by the Netherlands, and howitzers by Estonia.
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Sweden and Finland also announced, on February 27 and 28, the shipment of military equipment. Stockholm notably sent 5,000 anti-tank rocket launchers. For its part, Helsinki claims to be able to provide 2,500 assault rifles and 1,500 anti-tank guns. Belgium, Poland, Bulgaria and Spain also provided military support.
In France, a late arms shipment
Emmanuel Macron announced at the end of February the dispatch of 500 soldiers to Romania within the framework of NATO, in addition to the 300 already active in Estonia. Some 600 soldiers are also mobilized in France for flights over Poland.
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If, at the start, France was confined to sending defensive equipment (helmets, bulletproof vests, mine clearance equipment, etc.), the Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly assured, on France Info on March 3, the change of position of the government. “We sent weapons yesterday and we are continuing this process,” indicated the minister without revealing the nature of the material concerned.
Transfers via the Polish border
For the time being, arms deliveries to Ukraine are mainly carried out by land. “Ukrainian Airspace” is not “not accessible for planes coming from outside”, underlined Florence Parly.
The Russian army controlling only certain parts of Ukrainian territory, “the border between Poland and Ukraine has turned into a hub for the delivery of weapons to the Ukrainian resistance and army” explains the Geopolitical Studies Group (GEG) in an article published in their journal The Great Continent. This access route remains fragile, underlines the GEG, because “Russia might, in the coming weeks, cut Ukrainians’ access to this military equipment by taking control of the Ukrainian part of the border”.
