West depleting ammunition stockpiles in Ukraine
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Ukrainian forces are reportedly using 6000 artillery shells per day. The munition stocks in the arsenals of Western arms-supplier are being steadily depleted, according to the Week.
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A Ukrainian soldier smokes a cigarette on his position at an armored vehicle outside Kharkov, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 (AP)
Ukrainian forces are reportedly using 6000 artillery shells per day. The munition stocks in the arsenals of Western arms-supplier are being steadily depleted, according to The Week.
The Associated Press reported that Polish and EU officials are negotiating a military rejuvenation program worth $2.2 billion for the sake of maintaining a steady supply of arms for Ukraine "and to replenish Europe's dwindling stocks".
Read more: Germany adds €12 bln in military assistance for Ukraine: Bloomberg
The US is also reportedly suffering from a critical shortage in military supplies. Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) assesses the munition stockpiles that the US has been export-funneling to Ukraine have steadily decreased since the outbreak of the war.
The American military has lost a significant bulk of its artillery shells and other "sophisticated" weapons, the New York Times reported. " [Americans are] watching stocks of some key weapons dwindle "as a result of "industry consolidation, depleted manufacturing lines, and supply chain issues" a report by the Times reads.
Read more: Putin says West cannot 'outgun' Russia in Ukraine
NYT points out that the US has consumed its military in a proxy conflict in Europe when many US officials warmonger in anticipation of a potential conflict with China. However, sustaining the conflict in Ukraine is still a priority for the West.
Back in December, researchers of the Foreign Policy Research Institute argued that "Ammunition availability might be the single most important factor that determines the course of the war in 2023, and that will depend on foreign stockpiles and production".
Read more: Without US-led support, Ukrainians would have collapsed: Report
Furthermore, Maiya Clark of the Heritage Foundation has pointed out that "Once the stockpiles are expended, the Department of Defense cannot simply buy more munitions — manufacturing takes years; contractors need time to expand their production facilities, hire more workers, and obtain more components from their suppliers."
Read more: Biden to escalate in Ukraine: NYT
Earlier this week, a report published by the New York Times cited a US official saying that the US strategy in Ukraine will be growing more audacious while the White House grows restless to reclaim the lands lost to Russia since the start of the special military operation.
The US has been one of the most steadfast supporters of Kiev since the outbreak of the war with Russia. In May 2022, the US Senate approved a $40 billion Ukraine supplies package, including more than $20 billion in military funding. Additionally, back in February, the US announced its intentions to dedicate $9.9 billion of its budget in support of Ukraine. Now in light of the reported audacious change in the US strategy, the threshold for escalation will be raised significantly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with Russian media last Saturday, stressed that despite the West's multi-billion-dollar-worth campaigns supplying Ukraine with weapons to support their proxy war, the US and Europeans will not be able to outgun Russia.
