The US talked about the possibility of sending troops into Ukraine

No decision has been made to send troops into Ukraine

About US sends troops into Ukraineon May 23, General Mark Milley – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that any feasible decision on this move is still far away, although he acknowledges that low-level planning is underway. .

Since 2015, the US has often sent National Guard reservists to Ukraine to provide training and advice. However, President Joe Biden decided to withdraw his forces from Ukraine before the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out on February 24 to avoid direct conflict with a nuclear weapons country.

However, the changing context, including the reopening of the US Embassy in Kiev, raises questions about whether US troops can return to ensure the security of US diplomats in a country with conflicting interests. sudden or not.

General Milley acknowledged during a press conference on May 23, the deployment of several levels of personnel is being planned before a potential decision is made on returning US troops to Ukraine.

However, that plan has not been considered by him or by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In this case of intent, the final decision rests with President Joe Biden.

“Ultimately, any re-entry of US forces into Ukraine requires a presidential decision,” Milley noted.

Mr. Milley did not clarify that he was referring to low-level planning for the US military to ensure US diplomatic presence in Ukraine or potentially for other activities, Reuters pointed out.

The Pentagon is helping Ukraine through intelligence sharing and sending weapons.

20 new countries donating to Ukraine

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that about 20 countries have committed to the new security assistance package for Ukraine after a multilateral conference on how to meet Kiev’s needs, according to The Hill.

The video conference on military aid to Ukraine is the second Ukraine Contact Group meeting since Russia launched its operation in Ukraine at the end of February. The conference was attended by defense ministers and leaders from 47 countries.

The Ukraine Contact Group was formed last month when officials met at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss how to meet Ukraine’s defense needs.

“Many countries are funding much-needed artillery shells, coastal defense systems and tanks and other armored vehicles. Other countries have renewed their commitment to training Ukraine’s forces and maintaining their military systems,” Austin said at the Pentagon after the videoconference.

Among the weapons pledged were a Harpoon launcher and missiles from Denmark to “help Ukraine defend its coast”, Austin said.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic agreed to send “substantial assistance, including recent funding for attack helicopters, tanks and missile systems”, the Pentagon chief added.

In addition, Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland have all announced funding for new artillery and ammunition systems.

During the press conference, US Defense Secretary Austin also expressed his pleasure to have a number of other countries join the Ukraine Contact Group in the second meeting, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Ireland and Kosovo.

“Following today’s discussion, I am pleased to announce that we are increasing our efforts,” he said.

Western nations are working to send Ukraine weapons and equipment to help it in its conflict with Russia. To date, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has displaced 6.5 million people from the country and another 8 million internally displaced.

Minister Austin also announced that the third meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group will take place in person in Brussels on June 15, at the same time as the upcoming NATO Defense Ministers meeting.

About what Denmark provides Harpoon anti-ship missile and launchers for Ukraine, another Reuters report said, this is a signal that Kiev will receive more US-made weapons to significantly expand its attack range.

Ukraine has been looking for more advanced weapons such as air defense systems, anti-ship missiles and longer-range missiles, but so far most of the aid has been short-range systems such as anti-tank weapons. Javelin and cannon.

The Harpoon missile could be used to push the Russian navy out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, allowing continued exports of grain and other agricultural products.

“This is an important and measurable move” to increase Ukraine’s combat capabilities and intensity, said Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). According to him, the Boeing-made Harpoon missile can help Ukraine threaten high-value Russian ships that are attacking Ukraine from the Black Sea or elsewhere.

U.S. congressional sources and a U.S. official told Reuters that Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missiles are in short supply, so the Harpoon missile provides Ukraine with more ability to repel ships. Russia and commenced demining operations.

With the Harpoon missile, Ukraine will likely depend on other countries for targeting data to effectively use the system against ships at longer ranges, Karako noted.

Several countries are willing to send Harpoon to Ukraine, but none wants to be the first or only due to concerns about possible retaliation, according to US officials.