Austin visits Ukraine: Russian successes and US elections are imminent

Austin visits Ukraine: Russian successes and US elections are imminent

Kyjiw, Ukraine-The US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyjiw early Monday morning, while the future of US aid for Ukraine is uncertain in view of the upcoming presidential election in the USA and the small but constant progress on the battlefield. Austin will meet with Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and the Minister of Defense Rustem Umerow to discuss the arms needs of Ukraine and clarify how the USA can continue to support the country's military in the coming year.

The challenges of Ukraine in winter

During his visit, Austin will also take the opportunity to look back on the development of US Ukrainian relations in the past two and a half years. However, a senior defense officer made it clear that this would not be a triumphal march. The situation of the Ukrainians against the Russians is "very difficult" before winter, the official stated. Despite the strict western sanctions against Russia's economy, the numerous military aids that the United States have sent to Ukraine, and the creation of multinational coalitions to support the Ukrainian troops by bidding administration, the situation remains tense.

Explosions in the capital

According to a CNN producer in Kyjiw, loud explosions were heard in the early hours of Monday grain, which illustrates the continuing daily bombing with which the country is confronted more than 2.5 years after the attack. The city authorities reported activated air defense systems.

Multinational coalitions and their meaning

Austin and the bidding administration see multinational coalitions as the decisive part of their inheritance as Minister of Defense, in particular the "Ukraine Defense Contact Group"-an alliance of 57 countries and the European Union, which Austin launched two months after the start of the war to coordinate the immediate military aid for Ukraine. "It is absolutely remarkable what Ukraine has achieved," said Austin. "Of course, they could only do this because we supported them from the start and were able to mobilize around 50 countries that are part of this support."

Political uncertainties and the future of support

US officials hope that these coalitions will remain, but a possible victory by Donald Trump raises many questions. The former President rejected the last month to say whether he wants Ukraine to win the war and described Selenskyj as a "seller" who "should have got that this war never started". A rank -high defense officer noticed that the Pentagon continued to plan as if the support continues, and Austin emphasized on Friday: "Every day we build long -term skills for Ukraine."

An unsafe way to victory for Ukraine

Austin arrived in a country on Monday that continues to lead a brutal struggle for its existence. Selenskyj has excluded to cede any territory to the Russians and continues to work for the integration of Ukraine into NATO to find the best way to win. "The first point is an invitation to NATO, now," said Selenskyj, referring to the first point of his "victory plan", which he presented to the USA, Europe and NATO. Paradoxically, however, NATO will probably not accept Ukraine as a member as long as the country is in the war.

Risk factors for Ukraine and the role of Russia

Russian troops have continued to take Ukrainian territory and fire three times as many floors as the Ukrainians. According to a high-ranking NATO official, you also have a "significant" superiority among personnel and ammunition. At the same time, Iran sent three deliveries with ballistic rockets to Russia this year, and North Korea has provided 11,000 containers with ammunition and seems to prepare for the sending of troops to Russia. China also remains a "critical enabler" for Russia's efforts, according to the NATO official.

Investments in Ukrainian defense

Although the war has imposed high costs for Russia - more than 1,250 losses per day in September, the highest value since the beginning of the war - Moscow continues to mobilize 30,000 new soldiers per month and produces more than 3 million ammunition annually. Thanks to western support, Ukraine has better weapon technology, which could give the country a strategic advantage. A defense officer said: "Ukraine is in a much stronger position in relation to the skills this year than in the previous year." Nevertheless, Russia still has the superiority in relation to the mass of staff and ammunition.

Despite these challenges, Austin expressed trust that the United States and its allies will also support Ukraine next year, regardless of who is in power. "I think the allies and partners will continue to respond to the challenge," he said on Sunday evening.