According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is making progress. The US decision to provide uranium ammunition to Kiev provoked an angry reaction from Moscow, even though Europe has long overtaken the US in aid payments.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sees progress in the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the fight against Russia. The Ukrainians progressed more slowly than hoped, but gained 100 meters of ground per day. “And we must not forget the beginning: in the beginning, the Russian army was the second strongest in the world. Now it is the second strongest in Ukraine,” he teased at a hearing in the EU Parliament on Thursday.
Ukraine has been conducting a counter-offensive for months to liberate the territories occupied by Russia. In addition to the regions of Zaporizhia and Donetsk, this also includes Kherson and Luhansk. In the Russian war of aggression, which has now lasted more than a year and a half, Kiev also wants to recapture the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Overall, Europe pays more than the US
According to figures from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, European aid pledges for Ukraine now amount to 156 billion euros. The amount is more than twice as high as the US commitment of less than 70 billion, the IfW reported on Thursday in its Ukraine Support Tracker.
For the pledges from Europe, the institute adds up the pledged funds from the European Union, its member states and non-EU countries such as Great Britain or Norway. A new EU aid pot alone, the so-called Ukraine Facility, includes €50 billion for the years 2023 to 2027. Other multi-year aid pledges include a German military package worth €10.5 billion for the years 2024 to 2027.
The IfW also mentions multi-year programs from Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal and Lithuania.
“It is remarkable how quickly Europe moved to a permanent, multi-year support program for Ukraine,” said Christoph Trebesch, the team leader responsible for the Ukraine Support Tracker. “In comparison, the US is now significantly behind, having made no significant new commitments in recent months.” However, the US remains Kiev’s first port of call when it comes to firepower.
Kremlin angry over uranium munitions
The Kremlin has strongly condemned the planned supply of uranium munitions by the US to Ukraine. “This is very bad news,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Interfax news agency. The use of such ammunition will lead to an increase in the incidence of cancer and other ailments, he said. This was shown by data after the bombing of Yugoslavia, which, however, is controversial.
The same can now be expected in Ukraine. “The responsibility for this will, of course, lie entirely with the leadership of the United States of America, which made this decision,” he said.
New US package announced
On Wednesday, the US government announced a new aid package worth more than $1 billion, parallel to the visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Kiev. For the first time, Washington is also supplying depleted uranium tank ammunition. The uranium ammunition is intended for the American Abrams tanks. Because it is denser than steel or lead, depleted uranium has greater penetrating power.
According to a 2010 report by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER), there is “no evidence of environmental and health risks” from depleted uranium: “Radiation exposure from depleted uranium is very low compared to the naturally existing radiation According to experts, Russia also has uranium munitions.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
