The first time the U.S. is sending tanks to Ukraine - The U.S. and Netherlands are splitting the cost of refurbishing 90 more Czech T-72B tanks for Uk
The Hill: Sullivan meets with Zelensky in Kyiv to announce $400M in military assistance
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Kyiv on Friday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announce a new $400 million military assistance package the United States is sending amid the Russian invasion.
The new security assistance package includes refurbished T-72 tanks, which is the first time the U.S. is sending tanks to Ukraine, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles and the refurbishment of 250 HAWK surface-to-air missiles for eventual transfer to Ukraine, according to the White House.-
The additional military, ground and air capabilities come as Ukrainian forces are pushing forward on an offensive to retake the southern city of Kherson, even as they come under increased aerial attacks from Russia, including from Iranian-supplied drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called for NATO to supply tanks within the first weeks of Russia’s invasion, which began on Feb. 24.
On Friday he tweeted that Ukraine is “thankful to [President Biden] and the people of [the United States] for another $400 military assistance package.”
The weapons package includes 90 refurbished T-72 tanks, which will all come from the Czech Republic. The United States will pay for 45 of them to be refurbished, while the Netherlands will pay to refurbish the other 45, according to Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
The T-72s mark the first provision of tanks from U.S. funds since the war in Ukraine began, with some of the vehicles expected to be delivered by the end of December, Singh said.
Despite Russia’s efforts, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Ukraine is making “incremental progress” in the south.
“There is some incremental progress by the Ukrainians in the south and, quite frankly, up in the northeast as well, as they continue to try to push the Russian lines back even further,” he said.
Kirby added that the Russian lines are “largely static and deepening” and echoed reported observations of Russian military movements in the territory around Kherson and civilian evacuations. This could signal preparations for an upcoming battle.
Part of the $400 million will be directed to manufacturers to refurbish HAWK air defense missiles, and their delivery is expected to be announced in a future presidential drawdown of military assistance to Ukraine, Kirby said.
“We'll spend the money to get these HAWK interceptors back up to code, and then in the future presidential drawdown we'll deliver them right to Ukraine. That's an example of evolving to meet the needs,” he said.
Also included in the package is 250 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles and 1,100 new Phoenix Ghost drones, although Singh did not “have an exact timeline for when this next tranche” of drones will be delivered.
About: T-72
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The Hill: US, Netherlands go Dutch to refurbish Czech tanks for Ukraine
WASHINGTON ― The U.S. and Netherlands are splitting the cost of refurbishing 90 more Czech T-72B tanks for Ukraine in Kyiv’s fight to repel Russia, the Pentagon announced Friday.
The agreement is part of a $400 million U.S. aid package to Ukraine that includes funding to refurbish and donate an undisclosed number of the U.S. military’s outdated Hawk air defense systems. It includes a mix of U.S. stockpiled equipment and new contracting under Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
The package includes more than 1,100 more Aevex Aerospace-made Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drones, almost twice the 580 pledged earlier this year. Also included is funding to refurbish 250 M1117 armored vehicles, which the U.S. would provide Ukraine for the first time, 40 riverine boats and unnamed tactical secure communications and surveillance systems, as well as unspecified training, maintenance and sustainment funding.
The U.S. is sending the Hawk mid-range surface-to-air guided missiles after Ukraine pleaded for air defenses. Russia has for weeks been bombarding the country’s infrastructure, including power stations, with missiles and Iranian drones as Ukraine pressed a counteroffensive.
The three-way deal for the Soviet-era T-72 tanks would upgrade their optics and armor. Some of Ukraine’s neighbors, including the Czech Republic and Poland, have previously sent aged Russian-made tanks.
Deputy Defense Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters the U.S. purposely opted against sending U.S. tanks.
“Introducing a new main battle tank is extremely costly, it’s time sensitive and it would be a huge undertaking for Ukrainian forces,” Singh said. “We do continue to consult with our allies and partners to assess ... what we can provide in terms of Western platforms, but these tanks, we believe, will make a difference on the battlefield.”
The first batch of tanks is expected to be delivered to Ukraine as early as next month, according to the Dutch Defense Ministry.
Kyiv has reportedly been seeking main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers, which would provide its forces ground maneuver and mobile protected firepower capabilities necessary to exploit opportunities created by artillery fire, according to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
“These transfers would allow the Ukrainian military to use the systems in battle immediately and could even provide additional benefits to U.S. national security objectives by weaning other countries off Russian weaponry,” FDD’s Bradley Bowman and Ryan Probst wrote in a report.
The Pentagon also announced the creation of a Security Assistance Group - Ukraine, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany under U.S. European Command. The SAG-U will be responsible for managing short- and long-term support for Ukraine. Singh said the arrangement would streamline an existing mission.
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The Hill: Here’s how a GOP win in November might affect 2023 defense policy
Bigger defense budgets, heavier scrutiny of military aid to Ukraine and a tougher line on China are all on the horizon should Republicans take control of the House or Senate after midterm elections, experts say.
Though not at the forefront of the 2022 midterms, foreign policy and national security issues will likely get a shakeup with a GOP takeover of either or both chambers, with wide-ranging impacts that could happen quickly after Nov. 8.
Experts already have their eyes on a spate of defense topics – both global and domestic – that are poised to change under a new Congress, ranging from spending levels to social policies and everything in between, Arnold Punaro, a retired three-star general and former staff director on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill.
“How do we deter China, particularly vis-à-vis Taiwan? . . . How much should really be invested in dealing with climate change as it relates to national security? The vaccine mandate, recruiting challenges; these are all things that they’re going to ask,” he said.
Top GOP defense priorities were first highlighted in House Republicans’ “Commitment to America,” released in September, which laid out their goals should they wrestle back the majority.
The lawmakers promise to “support our troops, invest in an efficient, effective military, establish a Select Committee on China, and exercise peace through strength with our allies to counter increasing global threats.”
Republican leadership has not given specific details as to how it would achieve such goals but expected to drive many of their wants is an increase in defense budget toplines, with the sweeping defense appropriations bill to rise in fiscal 2024 should Republicans take more control, according to Punaro.
While the fiscal 2023 defense budget is still being worked out between the House and Senate, lawmakers are expected to agree to a $815 billion defense budget, about 9 percent higher than last year’s spending.
Higher inflation costs drove much of that increase, but Republicans are expected to push for even more money next year, following past examples from a Republican-controlled House and Senate, Punaro said.
In keeping an eye on Congressional spending, among the most watched of the changes will be foreign aid – particularly to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia – with a split on the issue between a small number of populist GOP House members and those in the establishment party.
The United States has given Ukraine nearly $20 billion in lethal aid since the war began in February, but Kyiv has stressed that more will be needed for defense as well as humanitarian efforts as Russia continues to damage critical Ukrainian infrastructure.
While Kyiv’s leaders believe a GOP-led House or Senate won’t pull back on giving Ukraine weapons, they are preparing for a scenario where Republicans may look to curtail future economic aid to their country, said Daniel Vajdich, a lobbyist that works with Ukrainian officials.
“Ukraine isn’t worried, but there is a recognition in Kyiv that the nature of the conversation may evolve in the coming weeks and months,” Vajdich told The Hill.
He added that Ukrainians “are constantly engaging with Congress” and “feel confident that the vast majority of lawmakers understand what’s at stake and what a Russian victory would mean, not just for Ukraine, but for the United States itself.”
The issue of foreign military aid in next year’s Congress was highlighted after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, potentially the next House speaker, in October said there would be no “blank check” for Ukraine if Republicans take control.
“People are going to be sitting in a recession, and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” McCarthy told Punchbowl News. “Ukraine is important, but at the same time it can’t be the only thing they do, and it can’t be a blank check.”
McCarthy has since tried to downplay the statement, saying he believes aid to Ukraine is important and was only arguing for more oversight.
“I support making sure that we move forward to defeat Russia in that program. But there should be no blank check on anything. We are $31 trillion in debt,” McCarthy said on CNBC last month.
Punaro also didn’t believe Republican leadership would allow a pullback in monetary help for Ukraine, pointing to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has vowed that a GOP-led Senate would go beyond what the Biden administration has provided and “focus its oversight on ensuring timely delivery of needed weapons and greater allied assistance to Ukraine.”
“You’ve got the isolationist wings in both parties that stir the pot. . . .[but] I think the leadership will be able to convince the American people and convince a majority in Congress that the risk of Russia and Putin taking over Ukraine is far greater than the reverse,” Punaro said.
And when asked about the effect a GOP House might have on aid to Ukraine, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the administration has “had excellent bipartisan support to date when it comes to Ukraine, and so the department will continue to work closely with Congress on this important issue.”
Republican lawmakers are also expected to press on several social issues, particularly the Pentagon’s 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate, abortion access, numerous defense policy changes dealing with diversity, gender, inclusion and investigating extremism in the ranks.
Those issues have caused several heated exchanges between conservative lawmakers and Pentagon officials when debated in defense policy hearings over the past year. Most notable among them was a tense back and forth in April between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) over allegations the military is pushing wokeism and socialism.
Punaro said he expects those conversations to continue into 2023 should Republicans take full or partial control of Congress but that GOP lawmakers, while they will question several policies, likely won’t be successful at significantly changing them.
“I think, to their credit, the defense committees put national security ahead of partisan politics, and I think they’ll do that again,” he said.
And on the topic of China, expect more scrutiny by Republican lawmakers as to how to deter the major world power with support from both sides of the aisle, Punaro added.
“In a new Congress, I think [GOP lawmakers] are going look at the National Defense Strategy and determine what parts of that they are very supportive of and which parts they challenge,” he said, referring to the Biden administration’s recently released document that listed China among its biggest challenges.
“I think they’re going to ask a lot of questions about this concept of integrated deterrence and does that really deter people like Iran and China? . . . [But] you’ve got strong bipartisan support, there’s no argument there.”
House Republicans already set up a China Task Force at the start of 2020, but their “Commitment to America” document promises a new Select Committee on China.
Details on the committee are limited, but like the China Task Force, it’s expected to tackle numerous bipartisan proposals including working with Taiwan to provide the independent island with more U.S. weapons as China bears down on Taipei with threats to bring it under Beijing’s control.
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