Kiev will agree to borrow to buy US weapons if there is no other choice

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently expressed openness to an idea once proposed by former US President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House, called on Ukraine to buy weapons instead of receiving arms aid from the US.

Bulgarian Military website on April 7 quoted Der Spiegel (Germany) as saying that initially, Mr. Zelensky opposed borrowing to buy weapons from the US, but recent developments have signaled a change in the Ukrainian leader's stance.

In a nationally televised interview on April 6, Mr. Zelensky said he believed the US Congress would eventually allocate additional aid to Ukraine, and that Kiev would agree to borrow to buy weapons if it had no other choice.

“As for US aid, it is very important in any case. I still believe that we can get a positive vote from the US Congress. Unfortunately, we are almost hostages in this situation. Unfortunately, the issue of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has now become a domestic political issue in the US, although it is about world security. And I do not understand this half-hearted approach…”, the Ukrainian president said.

Mr. Zelensky also said that Ukraine is ready to receive funding from the US in the form of loans.

“A US senator recently came here and said: Do you agree to a loan? We asked: What are the options? He said: What if they tell you that this money is a loan, otherwise you will not get it? I said: What is the point of these options if there are no options? So we will agree to any option,” Zelensky said.

Distress

The situation on the ground is increasingly difficult for Ukraine as Russian forces make significant advances. According to Mr. Zelensky, Ukraine is on a “precarious” footing, and its survival depends on any agreement they can negotiate to keep their course.

Faced with the choice of accepting an arms loan package now or receiving free aid in a year, the Ukrainian leader is leaning toward the former, reflecting the urgency of the situation.

“In fact, if Ukraine had to choose between getting everything as a loan today or getting everything for free in a year, we would choose the former,” the Ukrainian leader said. “We have only one option – to survive and win. We are trying to do this (seeking aid) in different ways. The main thing is: the sooner the better.”

President Zelensky inspects new fortifications of Ukrainian soldiers in the Sumy region, March 27, 2024. Photo: The Guardian

In a recent announcement, the President of Ukraine stressed that his country needs at least 25 Patriot air defense systems, each with 6-8 batteries. According to the leader, this is to effectively protect Ukrainian airspace from attacks by Russian aircraft. He further emphasized that, along with Patriot, the German IRIS-T air defense system has also proven its worth in the fight against Moscow.

On the front lines of defense, Ukraine’s armed forces are struggling with a severe shortage of ammunition. Their defenses are routinely overwhelmed by Russian air power. All eyes in Kiev are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first batch of F-16 fighter jets from Western allies.

However, countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark, which have pledged to provide assistance through the donation of F-16s, have said that the delivery time depends on the proficiency of Ukrainian pilots. Despite the hopes that the arrival of F-16s in Ukraine will bring positive results, some Western experts warn that the fighters alone cannot do the trick.

"Powerless"

If the United States chooses to provide weapons to Ukraine on a loan basis—a decision that appears to be supported by Republicans—then Ukraine could spiral into a serious debt crisis, a possibility that would deepen if Ukraine fails to repel Russian forces and reclaim territories currently under Russian control, including Crimea.

The east, now controlled by Russia, is an industrial and energy hub. Another unsuccessful counteroffensive would not only leave territories unrecoverable, but would also saddle ordinary Ukrainians with huge debt, exacerbating already fragile living standards.

If reality plays out according to Mr. Trump's view that Ukraine should buy rather than be given weapons, this will be a "boost" for the billionaire's election campaign, and a significant victory for Mr. Trump in the race to the White House.

Rescue workers try to extinguish a fire following a UAV attack in Kharkiv, April 6, 2024. Photo: DW

It would be no surprise if he used this development to his advantage. Mr Trump could claim that he was right all along, and that the Biden administration missed a crucial opportunity to significantly boost US arms sales.

Fortunately for Ukraine, on the other side of the Atlantic, European sentiment remains consistent. The European Union (EU) continues to support plans to provide weapons to Ukraine in the form of donations, rather than sales. European countries have already planned to expand their defense industrial capacity to produce no less than 1 million artillery shells.

Unfortunately, Europe may be in a “powerless” position, lacking the capacity to produce such a significant number within the stipulated time frame. Worse, Germany has announced that it will not supply Kiev with the Taurus long-range air-to-surface missile. Furthermore, the lack of government contracts has hampered its production .

Minh Duc (According to Bulgarian Military, Ukrainska Pravda)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/kiev-se-dong-y-vay-de-mua-vu-khi-my-neu-khong-con-lua-chon-nao-khac-a657972.html