Some Risks Are Worth Taking for Ukraine: The West seems to be giving Kyiv enough weapons to hold off but not defeat Russia; U.S. Himars Help to Hold Off Russian Advance; Ukraine Faces Difficulties Getting Western Weapons to Front Lines; Russia has taken 60,000 casualties in Ukraine, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

Photo: presidential press service hando/Shutterstock

Some Risks Are Worth Taking for Ukraine:

The West seems to be giving Kyiv enough weapons to hold off but not defeat Russia

As a weekly columnist rather than daily reporter, I have the luxury of deciding what I think is most important to write about. While the war in Ukraine may be falling off the front page of newspapers, it should remain at the forefront of our thinking. Vladimir Putin’s brutal and unprovoked assault could destroy a sovereign, independent and democratic country that poses no military threat to Russia, and it threatens to undermine the peace that Europe has enjoyed since the end of World War II.

The battle for Ukraine is a hinge of history. If the U.S. and its allies successfully help Kyiv turn back Russian aggression, the global forces supporting democracy and the rule of law will be strengthened—perhaps enough to arrest the past decade’s decline of democratic governance around the world. If America fails, autocrats around the world will conclude that democrats lack the will to defend their own cause. As China’s rulers eye Taiwan, they are also watching the Donbas.

Echoing a sentiment held throughout the West, President Biden has decided that the U.S. must resist Russian aggression without directly intervening on Ukraine’s side. We don’t know whether this self-imposed restriction will prevent Ukraine from succeeding. But one thing is clear: We must give the Ukrainians every reasonable chance to do so. This will require America and Europe to take prudent risks.

For example, reports from the front lines indicate that the longer-range rockets the U.S. has begun sending to Volodymyr Zelensky’s government are potential game-changers. The Ukrainians are using these weapons to destroy Russian arms depots and command centers far behind the front. In a war dominated by artillery, these systems could allow Ukraine to halt Russian advances and take the offensive. They’ve already had such an impact that Russia’s defense minister has designated them a priority target.

Sending many more of these weapons to Ukraine might temporarily exhaust our reserves and reduce the combat readiness of some active-duty units until new production can fill the gap. Although the Biden administration’s reluctance to do so is understandable, that is a worth risk taking because the stakes are so high in Ukraine. --->READ MORE HERE

Photo: GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

U.S. Himars Help to Hold Off Russian Advance, Ukraine Says:

Long-range artillery is stabilizing the front line, Ukraine’s military chief says, ahead of a planned counteroffensive in southern Ukraine

U.S.-supplied long-range artillery has helped stabilize the front line with Russia in the east of the country, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces said, as his troops geared up for a counteroffensive to retake territory in the south.

After weeks of grueling combat in eastern Ukraine that culminated in Russian forces claiming control over the Luhansk region, the arrival of U.S. mobile rocket launchers, known as Himars, last month has strengthened Kyiv’s hand.

“It is difficult, tense, but completely under control,” said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, who said he discussed the situation on the battlefield with Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a post on his Telegram channel Tuesday, Mr. Zaluzhny cited Himars as an “important factor contributing to our retention of defensive lines and positions.”

Along with other heavy weapons systems from North Atlantic Treaty Organization members in recent weeks, Himars have enabled Ukraine to strike Russian bases far behind the front lines, including ammunition and fuel depots.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday told a group of Russian troops to make Ukraine’s long-range weaponry a priority target, in a sign that Ukraine’s additional firepower is taking a toll on Moscow’s forces. While the new weapons systems are raising costs for Russia, Western officials say it is unclear whether they will enable Kyiv to alter the course of the conflict completely. --->READ MORE HERE

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