New: European Allies to Start Shipments of US Weapons to Ukraine

On Thursday, it was announced that several European NATO allies will be funding major purchases of United States military hardware and weapons to be supplied to Ukraine. The State Department has approved the sale, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a press release with details.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of Air Delivered Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $825 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy up to three thousand three hundred fifty (3,350) Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and three thousand three hundred fifty (3,350) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM), Y-Code, or M-Code. The following non-MDE items will be included: missile containers; stoker pylons; component parts and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons software and support equipment; mission planning system hardware; classified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; transportation support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $825 million.

Ukraine will receive the materials, but several European powers are providing the funds to pay for them.

Ukraine will use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway and Foreign Military Financing from the United States for this purchase. The ERAM is an example of working together with our NATO allies to develop a capable and scalable system capable of being delivered on a fast timeline.

This appears to be something of a workaround to allow American-made weapons to be shipped to Ukraine without direct American involvement. Since presumably the peace negotiations are still intended to continue, this may allow President Trump to continue in his role as moderator between the warring parties.

Given the events of the last few days, the prospect of a negotiated peace isn't looking all that great.

There have been other recent weapons purchases by Ukraine, according to a Friday story in the New York Times:

Earlier this month, the Netherlands pledged to pay for an initial $500 million package of American equipment and munitions that Ukraine said it urgently needed. The next day, Denmark, Norway and Sweden said they would finance another $500 million package of U.S.-made materiel for Ukraine.

And:

Ukraine is buying some military aid directly from the United States. The purchases include more than $200 million in equipment and support for howitzer guns and transportation services this month, and about $322 million in parts for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Hawk surface-to-air missile systems in July.

Meanwhile, the optimism that pervaded the atmosphere after the Alaska Summit and then the following gathering of European leaders in Washington seems to be fading away. Ukraine's president is pushing for more discussions on Ukrainian security, and Russia has shown no inclination to reduce their attacks, including a recent attack in Kyiv that targeted residential areas.

It's looking like the Russo-Ukrainian War is going to drag on for some time yet. It would be lovely to be wrong about that, but it doesn't seem likely.