The decision was driven by the Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, and was made after a review of Pentagon munitions stockpiles.
Previously:
Overextending America: Israel’s Interceptor Shortfall + My Commentary
Tag: Presidential Drawdown Authority
US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says
The Interview: Antony Blinken Insists He and Biden Made the Right Calls
You made two early strategic decisions on Ukraine. The first, because of that fear of direct conflict, was to restrict Ukraine’s use of American weapons within Russia. The second was to support Ukraine’s military offensive without a parallel diplomatic track to try and end the conflict. How do you look back on those decisions now? So first, if you look at the trajectory of the conflict, because we saw it coming, we were able to make sure that not only were we prepared and allies and partners were prepared, but that Ukraine was prepared. We made sure that well before the Russian aggression happened, starting in September and then again December, we quietly got a lot of weapons to Ukraine to make sure that they had in hand what they needed to defend themselves, things like Stingers, Javelins that were instrumental in preventing Russia from taking Kyiv, from rolling over the country, erasing it from the map, and indeed pushing the Russians back. But I think what’s so important to understand is at different points in time, people get focused on one weapon system or another. Is it an Abrams tank? Is it an F-16? What we’ve had to look at each and every time is not only should we give this to the Ukrainians but do they know how to use it? Can they maintain it? Is it part of a coherent plan? All of those things factored into the decisions we made on what to give them and when to give it.
Related:
TASS: US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says
Ukraine began artillery strikes against the Donbas republics on February 16th, 2022.
“In other words, Ukraine began shelling the independent republics of Donetsk and Luhansk nine days before Russia announced its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.
“While the western corporate media remained completely silent, explosions documented by the OSCE increased from 76 on February 15th, to 316 on February 16th, to 654 on February 17th, and to 1,413 on February 18th.
[02-18-2022] Shelling in Donbass brings Europe to brink of war
PLA stages National Day drill in South China Sea in wake of 5-nation exercise
The drill in the disputed waters follows joint manoeuvres by the Philippines, US, Australia, Japan and New Zealand
PLA stages National Day drill in South China Sea in wake of 5-nation exercise
Related:
Biden Approves $567 Million in Military Aid for Taiwan, Angering China
Poorly trained recruits contribute to loss of Ukrainian territory on eastern front + The US Is Sending $125 Million in New Military Aid to Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Some new Ukrainian soldiers refuse to fire at the enemy. Others, according to commanders and fellow fighters, struggle to assemble weapons or to coordinate basic combat movements. A few have even walked away from their posts, abandoning the battlefield altogether.
While Ukraine presses on with its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, its troops are still losing precious ground along the country’s eastern front — a grim erosion that military commanders blame in part on poorly trained recruits drawn from a recent mobilization drive, as well as Russia’s clear superiority in ammunition and air power.
Poorly trained recruits contribute to loss of Ukrainian territory on eastern front, commanders say
Related:
Reuters: Russia and Ukraine report gains as some Ukrainians flee strategic city
But although the incursion is an embarrassment for Russia, Moscow’s forces have continued their gradual advances of the past few months against tired Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine worn down by 2-1/2 years of heavy fighting.
Moscow said its troops had taken control of the village of Mezhove in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, and that they had beaten back an attempt by a Ukrainian force to infiltrate its border in a different region to Kyiv’s Aug. 6 incursion.
Ukrainian authorities say Russian troops are now just 10 km (six miles) outside Pokrovsk, an important transport hub in eastern Ukraine, and this week started evacuating elderly residents and children.
…
Moscow’s capture of Pokrovsk, which lies at an intersection of roads and a railway line, would give Russia options to advance in new directions and also cut supply routes used by the Ukrainian military in the Donetsk region.
WSJ: Ukraine Moves to Encircle Russian Troops in Kursk and Digs In for Long Fight
The incursion hasn’t, so far, shifted the dynamic on the war’s main battlefields in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is advancing in toward Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian logistical hub, and Toretsk, a city on strategically important high ground.
The US Is Sending $125 Million in New Military Aid to Ukraine, Officials Say
Pentagon Weighs New Plan to Ship Weapons to Ukraine Quickly
A short-term measure carries political and military risks as the Biden administration considers whether to tap into U.S. stockpiles again.
Pentagon Weighs New Plan to Ship Weapons to Ukraine Quickly
US Army under increasing pressure as it foots bill for Ukraine support
US Army under increasing pressure as it foots bill for Ukraine support
Disclosure: Davis works for the Defense Priorities Foundation, which has been financed by the Koch network.
US and EU officials discuss possible negotiations with Russia with Ukraine
US and EU officials discuss possible negotiations with Russia with Ukraine
Background: In September, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kyiv could not conduct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin because he could not be trusted.
Kuleba also stated that the war
startedby Russia could not be stopped by sitting down at the negotiating table.
H/T: Emil Cosman
Related:
US and Europe in Talks With Ukraine on Possible ‘Peace Deal’ With Russia – Report
As for ‘peace’ talks with Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it is ready for negotiations, but Kiev has introduced a ban on them at a legislative level. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized at the UN General Assembly in September that Moscow would not consider any proposals of a ceasefire, “because the one time we did consider it, you [Kiev] deceived us.” Speaking about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point “Peace Formula,” Sergey Lavrov noted it is not remotely realistic, although the West regards it as the only basis for peace in Ukraine.
Support not ‘indefinite,’ White House tells Ukraine
When it comes to funding Kiev, the US says it is “at the end of the rope”
Support not ‘indefinite,’ White House tells Ukraine
US Scrambles to Get More Arms to Israel, Ukraine
US Scrambles to Get More Arms to Israel, Ukraine
Congress isn’t expected to authorize more spending on Ukraine or Israel until a new House speaker is elected, which will likely happen this week. According to The Messenger, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said Congress is discussing a massive military aid package for Ukraine and Israel that would also include funds for Taiwan. “There’s discussion about putting Israel funding, Ukraine funding, maybe Taiwan funding and finally border security,” he said.
Why are American hospitals treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made headlines earlier this week when he visited Ukrainian soldiers in a hospital to thank them for their service and dole out commendations. But there is one aspect of the story that is raising a lot of eyebrows: the hospital where the soldiers are being treated is in New York.
Why are American hospitals treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers?
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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