Biden’s decision to boost Ukraine’s artillery took too long — and Ukraine is paying the price; Ukraine facing grinding campaign as it waits for weapons; Ukraine says its troops have retaken ground from Russia in eastern city; Documents Reveal Hundreds of Russian Troops Broke Ranks Over Ukraine Orders, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

AP/Susan Walsh

Biden’s decision to boost Ukraine’s artillery took too long — and Ukraine is paying the price{

As Russia keeps leveling Ukrainian cities in order to “liberate” them, President Joe Biden has been going back and forth, back and forth for weeks on whether he’s going to properly arm Kyiv in its fight against Moscow. At least he’s finally (apparently) come down on the right side of one key question.

In his New York Times oped this week, Biden said he “will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine.”

His minions later detailed that this means sending four sophisticated, medium-range rocket systems (plus ammo) that will greatly increase the range of the Ukrainian artillery, as part of a new $700 million package.

The prez also insisted on Ukraine’s promise to use the weapons only to defend the country, not on targets within Russia. That didn’t stop Moscow from making noises about “widening the war,” but ominous threats are a Kremlin specialty. --->READ MORE HERE

AP Photo/Andrii Marienko

Ukraine facing grinding campaign as it waits for weapons:

Ukrainian forces locked in a grinding battle for control of the country’s east struggled to hold off Russian troops and buy themselves some time Thursday while they await the arrival of the advanced rockets and anti-aircraft weapons promised by the West.

With the arms deliveries possibly weeks away, Ukraine is looking at a prolonged period of grueling combat, military analysts said.

“There’s a time lag, so the next few weeks are going to be pretty tough for our Ukrainian friends,” said retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of U.S. Army forces in Europe.

Ukraine is intent on exhausting Russian forces, as evidenced by street-to-street fighting in the critical eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.

“And this can go on for quite some time,” he warned.

Britain on Thursday pledged to send sophisticated medium-range rocket systems to Ukraine, joining the U.S and Germany in equipping the country with some of the advanced weapons Kyiv had been begging for to shoot down aircraft and destroy artillery and supply lines.

Western arms have been critical to Ukraine’s success in stymieing Russia’s much larger and better-equipped military during the war, which was in its 99th day Thursday. --->READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++Ukraine says its troops have retaken ground from Russia in eastern city+++++

+++++Documents Reveal Hundreds of Russian Troops Broke Ranks Over Ukraine Orders+++++

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