Ukraine increases military production at a tank factory USSR times near the front lines for war against an aggressive Russia, while officials in Kiev think that the presidency of Donald trump will mean for the country. So writes the Wall Street Journal, adding that Ukrainian officials recognize the vital importance of the support of the US and other allies in order to bring the army in compliance with the conditions of the XXI century, while the Ukrainian soldiers have to restrain the militants in the East.
But in Kiev doubt that the President of the United States Donald trump will give a modern high-tech weapon that wasn’t made by his predecessor Barack Obama.
“Every day we pay for the lack of modern technologies the lives of our military,” – said Ukrainian MP and member of the parliamentary Committee on security and defense Irina Friz.
The publication writes that the request of Kiev was abandoned because of fears of America’s allies that the transfer of weapons to provoke Moscow for even more aggression and escalation. At the same time, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is convinced that the new administration will continue to support Ukraine.
A member of the NATO military Committee, General Petr Pavel is also convinced that a change of course towards Ukraine from the USA not worth the wait. He added that NATO continues to provide Kiev with support and helps to reorganize and improve the armed forces.
The Pentagon has prepared a plan for increased military assistance to Ukraine. Officials in Washington believe that the new administration could preserve it. Some key members of the team trump are also in favour of increasing support for the Ukrainians. However, the us military is paying attention to trump statements about finding a new relationship with Russia and the easing of sanctions, which were imposed after the occupation of Crimea and invasion of the Donbass. According to them, this can point to future changes in the American approach to the war in Ukraine.
And while the political uncertainty prevails, sparks fly from under the sting of welding machines in Kharkov, where workers of tank plant trying to repair the old tanks with new turrets, better armor and improving the main gun for a more effective struggle against the more modern weapons of Russia.
“We have no other choice. We have to do it on their own”, – told the head of the Ukrainian mission to NATO Yehor Bozhok.
One of the main fears of Ukrainian generals – the resumption of Russian tank attack. Ukraine has asked the US more advanced radars, air defense and antitank missile systems Javelin. Meanwhile, the us military praised the Ukrainian recovery program tanks, while US instructors are training Ukrainian officers.
“The best way to destroy a tank shot another tank,” said the commander of the American army in Europe General Ben Hodges. He, along with other military commanders of the United States visited a tank factory in Kharkiv shortly after the elections to assess if he can produce armament for the Ukrainian army faster.
The us military say they were amazed at how quickly Ukraine uses military experience in its own military-technical know-how. “We have wonderful people, we have good technology. But we need Western companies and Western partners to improve the effectiveness”, – said the Director of “Ukroboronprom” Roman Romanov.
Informed in the state concern “Ukroboronprom” said that the Ukrainian army is not getting modern technology and the state only partially covers the needs of the military in the absence of funds for new developments.
“We have fulfilled the state defense order by 100%, that is, gave the army everything she ordered. But let’s be honest: our state defense order several times less than the amount of funds provided by the program development of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine. In simple terms, the state is able to cover only minimum needs, without investing in production, without investment in technology”, – noted in “Ukroboronprom”.
