- Imminent Shortage Threatens Ukraine: By spring, Ukraine faces a critical shortage of ammunition and air defenses, posing a severe threat to its ability to counter Russian aggression.
- Crucial Timeframe: U.S. officials warn that “late March” is pivotal for Ukrainian troops’ fate, with a new aid bill from Congress being crucial to mitigate the situation.
- Deteriorating Support and Consequences: Support for Ukraine in the U.S. is waning, with dwindling aid and congressional gridlock.
- Ongoing Conflict Dynamics: The assessment comes almost two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the conflict entering its third year amid unresolved aid packages and questions about America’s commitment.
ABC NEWS
By spring, Ukraine faces a potentially catastrophic shortage of ammunition and air defenses that could effectively turn the tide of the war and lend Russian President Vladimir Putin a significant advantage, according to an internal U.S. estimate.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two U.S. officials described “late March” as being a particularly crucial time for the fate of Ukrainian troops if Congress doesn’t pass a new aid bill. A third official said it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the situation for Ukrainian troops could worsen but noted that the shortages were expected to grow more dire through spring.
“The juncture starts now and it just keeps getting worse progressively through the spring and into summer. So, this time period that we are entering is a critical time period,” said a senior U.S. defense official.
