To Defuse Ukrainian Separatists' Advance
"The West needs to bolster deterrence in Ukraine by raising the risks and costs to Russia of any renewed major offensive. That requires providing direct military assistance — in far larger amounts than provided to date and including lethal defensive arms."
Independent U.S. report urging billions in defences to Ukraine
"Although our focus remains on pursuing a solution through diplomatic means, we are always evaluating other options that will help create space for a negotiated solution to the crisis."
Bernadette Meehan, spokeswoman, National Security Council
"A comprehensive approach is warranted, and we agree that defensive equipment and weapons should be part of that discussion."
Pentagon official
"One of the best ways to deter Russia from supporting the rebels in taking more territory and stepping up the conflict is to increase the cost that the Russians or their surrogates would incur.""Providing the Ukrainians with something that can stop an armored assault and that puts at risk Russia or Russian-backed forces that are in armored vehicles, I think, is the most important aspect of this [report]."
Michèle A. Flournoy, former senior Pentagon official
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| Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region. In an independent report to be issued Monday, eight former senior American officials urge that the United States send defensive arms and equipment to Ukraine. Credit Manu Brabo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
The report, issued by a coalition comprised of the Atlantic Council, the Brookings Institution and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, was prepared along with Strobe Talbott, Clinton administration deputy secretary of State; Charles F. Wald, retired Air Force general, one-time deputy commander of the U.S. European Command; Jan M. Lodal, former Pentagon official; two former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine, John Herbst and Steven Piper.
The recommendation runs counter to the White House caution leading to limits on American assistance to Ukraine, providing "non-lethal" items, such as body armour, night-vision goggles, first-aid kits and engineering equipment. The report, however, is based on the seeming failure of the imposed economic sanctions to provide sufficient bite to the Kremlin to dissuade Russia from providing heavy weapons and military assistance to the secessionists in eastern Ukraine.
The independent report now urges the U.S. to commit to sending $3-billion-worth of defensive arms and equipment, including anti-armour missiles, reconnaissance drones, armoured Humvees and radar able to determine enemy rocket location and artillery fire. Others who helped in the report preparation include James G. Stravridis, retired general who once served as top NATO military commander and Ivo Daalder, the U.S. ambassador to NATO in Mr. Obama's first term in office.
Russia has chosen to ship heavy weapons in support of the separatist agenda in eastern Ukraine; T-80 and T-72 tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and armored personnel carriers, out-weaponizing the Ukrainian military. NATO estimates that around a thousand Russian military and intelligence personnel now support the separatist offensive, though Ukrainian officials put that estimate much higher. Without that Russian involvement the rebels would never have been able to capture the Donetsk airport and to forge on to Debaltseve.
In the last four months alone, the separatists have taken about 193 square miles of added territory, according to NATO. The Minsk agreement has been effectively nullified at the choice of Moscow.
"General Breedlove has repeatedly stated that he supports the pursuit of a diplomatic solution as well as considering practical means of support to the government of Ukraine in its struggle against Russian-backed separatists", spokesman Capt. Gregory Hicks of the Navy noted.The report pointed out that enemy rocket and artillery attacks represent the causality of 70 percent of the Ukrainian military's casualties, making the point that radars capable of pinpointing rocket and artillery fire locations would be critical to halting those casualties. At the same time, it was suggested that Russian military casualties be highlighted, to inform the Russian population that their soldiers are covertly engaged in an undeclared war, despite Moscow's protests to the contrary.
Because of the separatists' use of antiaircraft missiles, thanks again to Russian military generosity, the Ukrainian military has been forced to halt flights over eastern Ukraine; the supply of reconnaissance drones by the U.S. would be of added inestimable value to the Ukrainian military. Military communications equipment of a kind that Russian intelligence could not intercept, and the transfer of armoured Humvees and field hospitals were also urged upon the Obama administration for consideration.
Should the United States take the initiative, based on the report's recommendations, it seems highly probable that Poland, the Baltic States, Canada and Britain would step up their practical commitment to Ukraine's defence and begin to provide similar defensive weapons to turn the tide toward ensuring Ukraine's sovereign integrity.
Labels: Aggression, Armaments, NATO, Russia, Sanctions, Secession, Ukraine, United States
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, February 01, 2015
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