Nearly 50 protection leaders from around the globe met Monday and agreed to ship extra superior weapons to Ukraine, together with missiles to guard its coast, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advised reporters.
And Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, mentioned that “low-level” dialogue is underway on how the U.S. might have to regulate its coaching of Ukrainian forces and on whether or not some U.S. troops must be based mostly in Ukraine.
The U.S. withdrew its few troops in Ukraine earlier than the conflict and has no plans to ship in fight forces. Milley’s feedback left open the likelihood troops might return for embassy safety or one other non-combat function.
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has partially reopened and is staffing up once more, and there have been questions on whether or not the U.S. will ship a Marine safety drive again in to assist shield the embassy or if different choices must be thought of.
Asked if U.S. particular operations forces might go into Ukraine, which officers have insisted they aren’t doing but, Milley mentioned that “any reintroduction of U.S. forces into Ukraine would require a presidential decision. So we’re a ways away from anything like that.”
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Austin declined to say if the U.S. will ship Ukraine high-tech cellular rocket launchers, which it has requested. But Austin mentioned that some 20 nations introduced Monday that they may ship new packages of safety help to Ukraine, as its conflict with Russia reaches the three-month mark.
In specific, he mentioned that Denmark has agreed to ship missiles to Ukraine to assist Ukraine defend its coast. Russia has ships within the Black Sea and has used them to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. The Russian ships have additionally stopped all business ship visitors from getting into Ukraine ports.
“We’ve gained a sharper, shared sense of Ukraine’s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield,” Austin advised reporters on the shut of the digital assembly with the protection leaders. “Many countries are donating critically needed artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems and tanks and other armored vehicles. Others came forward with new commitments for training.”
The U.S. and different international locations have been coaching Ukrainian forces in close by European international locations.
Austin added that the Czech Republic just lately donated assault helicopters, tanks and rockets, and that Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland introduced new donations Monday of artillery programs and ammunition.
Also Monday, a captured Russian soldier who pleaded responsible to killing a civilian was sentenced by a Ukrainian courtroom Monday to life in jail — the utmost — amid indicators the Kremlin might, in flip, placed on trial among the fighters who surrendered at Mariupol’s steelworks.
Meanwhile, in a uncommon public expression of opposition to the conflict from the ranks of the Russian elite, a veteran Kremlin diplomat resigned and despatched a scathing letter to overseas colleagues through which he mentioned of the invasion, “Never have I been so ashamed of my country as on Feb. 24.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”