US pre-positioned arms for Ukraine dysfunctional, poorly maintained
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According to a Pentagon Special Inspector General report, some weapons the US had prepositioned in Europe to transfer to the Ukrainian armed forces (UAF) were inoperable.
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Ukrainian troops prepare a US-supplied M777 howitzer to fire at Russian positions in Kherson in Ukraine on January 9, 2023 (AP)
A Pentagon Special Inspector General report to Congress released Thursday has revealed that some weapons the US had prepositioned in Europe to transfer to the Ukrainian armed forces (UAF) were inoperable owing to poor maintenance and conditions,
The report detailed that "In February 2023, the DoD OIG determined that some of the weapons and equipment that the DoD had prepositioned in Europe—items it was transferring to the UAF —were not functional due to improper maintenance and poor conditions at Army warehouses."
Since 2022, US auditors have launched 57 investigations into fraud, corruption, embezzlement, and misuse involving US aid to Ukraine, 43 of which are still underway, according to the Thursday report.
The establishment of the Ukraine Fraud and Corruption Investigative Working Group was done to "coordinate investigative efforts among the federal investigative services with some jurisdiction over the Ukraine response. Since February 2022, these agencies have initiated 57 investigations, 14 of which have been closed and 43 of which remain open," the report detailed.
Open investigations involve grant and procurement fraud, corruption, theft, program irregularities as well as counter-proliferation of technology and weapons systems components, the report added.
$95bln military package for 'Israel', Ukraine, Taiwan passed by Senate
The US Senate granted final authorization to a $95 billion wartime "assistance" package for Ukraine, "Israel", and Taiwan in the early hours of Tuesday. The bill is now set to head to the Republican-held House, where its future remains uncertain.
During a vote held before dawn, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure with a vote of 70 to 29, surpassing the required 60-vote threshold required for most legislation to pass in the chamber.
A majority of Democrats, along with 22 Republicans, supported the bill, highlighting significant divides within the GOP regarding America's obligations toward its allies and its global role.
The package encompasses $60 billion designated for Ukraine, where military resources are quickly depleting. A substantial portion of these funds is intended to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities and replenish US weaponry and equipment deployed to the frontline.
Meanwhile, NATO is preparing to establish a new training center for the Ukrainian military, a project intended to supplement the European Union's training mission and assist Kiev in meeting the coalition's standards, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Thursday, citing diplomatic sources.
The sources informed the outlet that the new initiative will focus on enhancing the military readiness of Ukrainian personnel, as well as providing training in strategy and defense administration management.
According to the report, NATO defense chiefs are currently in the final stages of working out the specifics of the project at their meeting in Brussels, while it is anticipated to be formally approved at the alliance's summit in Washington in July.
