NYT: Ukraine won't get Western weapons promised by allies until summer
In addition, the Ukrainian military also needs to undergo training for certain types of weapons
Heavy weapons, air defence systems and most ammunition will not be delivered to Ukraine until the summer, The New York Times reports, citing US officials who wished to remain anonymous.
The interlocutors of the newspaper claim that the delivery of military aid could "take months", with most of the weapons being delivered to Ukraine no earlier than the end of May, and possibly later.
Another US official noted that the allies will need time to figure out what weapons can be transferred to Kyiv without depleting NATO's stockpiles. These include Bradley armoured personnel carriers, Humvees and 155mm artillery shells.
The Ukrainian military also needs to undergo training for certain types of weapons. On 29 April, about 70 Ukrainian soldiers began a 6-week training course on operating the Patriot air defence system at an airbase in eastern Germany.
According to Jan-Henrik Sukhordt, head of the Air and Missile Defence Unit of the German Air Force Headquarters, it is impossible to transfer air defence systems without training the military. He noted that Ukrainian soldiers are taking an accelerated course compared to the nine-month programme for the German Air Force.
After the training, it will take several days for the German military to transfer the missile launchers, radars and other equipment to a logistics centre in Poland, from where they will be transported across the border. The Patriot air defence systems will arrive in Ukraine no earlier than the end of June, the newspaper writes.
The delivery may coincide with the first batch of F-16 fighters.
Senior officials in Western countries believe that the supply of artillery systems, air defence systems and ammunition is a priority. These weapons are to be delivered by military aircraft and then transferred to Ukraine by train or truck.
At the same time, last Sunday, Kyiv received the first batch of anti-tank shells, missiles and 155mm ammunition.
According to American analysts interviewed by The New York Times, the Ukrainian army will be able to stabilise the situation at the front at best by summer and at worst by the end of the year.
According to the assessment, Russia will continue to make small gains on the eastern and southeastern fronts.
Other US officials do not believe that Russia has the strength to launch a major strike before 9 May, as it would require a significant build-up of forces that the allies have not seen so far.
Background. Meanwhile, in an interview with The Economist, Ukraine's military intelligence spokesman Vadym Skibitskyi said that there is no way for Ukraine to win this war on the battlefield alone. The situation at the front is the most difficult for Ukraine since the beginning of the war, and it may get worse, the intelligence officer said.
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