As Russia looks to be gaining momentum in the two-year conflict, the United States is considering sending more military advisers to the embassy in Kyiv. This is just the latest demonstration of American commitment to Ukraine.
According to Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the advisors would advise and assist the Ukrainian government and military rather than taking part in fighting.
The DOD has evaluated and modified our presence in the nation during this fight in response to changes in security. According to a statement Ryder provided to POLITICO, “we are currently considering sending several additional advisers to augment the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the Embassy,” adding that “personnel are subject to the same travel restrictions as all embassy employees.”
“Performing a variety of advisory and support missions (non-combat),” Ryder continued, “the ODC is embedded within the U.S. Embassy, under Chief of Mission authority like the rest of the Embassy, despite being staffed exclusively by DOD personnel.”
For “operational security and force protection reasons,” Ryder would not comment on the precise number of employees.
According to four American officials and a person with knowledge of the preparations who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss a private matter, the extra troops will help with monitoring and logistical efforts for the weaponry that the United States is supplying to Ukraine.
One of the U.S. officials and the individual with knowledge of the situation said that the new force will assist the Ukrainian military with weapon maintenance as well.
According to two U.S. officials, a small number of troops have been deployed for brief rotations linked to the embassy in Kiev; the second person characterised the numbers as “onesies and twosies.” These employees provide monitoring and security measures at the embassy.
The final number of U.S. forces to be dispatched to Ukraine was unclear, but according to two U.S. officials, it may reach sixty.
The House just approved billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine, and the additional troops, even in a non-combat role, would increase the size of the U.S. military presence in the nation. Congress had been unwilling to approve more aid for Kyiv for months due to the repeated doubts of former President Donald Trump on the endeavor.
For a some time now, President Joe Biden has maintained that American troops would not fight on behalf of Ukraine because doing so would raise the possibility of an open conflict between American and Russian forces.
As the summer battle is expected to intensify, one of the responsibilities the advisers will take on is assisting the Ukrainians in planning the maintenance of sophisticated equipment given by the United States, according to the person with knowledge. Additionally, they will support what is a relatively tiny President Joe Biden has long vowed U.S. troops wouldn’t participate in the war on Ukraine’s behalf, as doing so would increase the risk of a direct confrontation between American and Russian forces.
One of the tasks the advisers will tackle is helping the Ukrainians plan sustainment of complex equipment donated by the U.S. as the summer fighting is expected to ramp up, according to the person familiar. They’ll also buttress what is a relatively small contingent at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv and coordinate new weapons shipments when the current supplemental bill in Congress becomes law and allows more weapons and equipment to flow to Ukrainian front lines.
Since Russia’s counteroffensive last summer failed and Congress paused in approving the president’s request for billions of dollars in military aid, Ukraine has battled to recover the upper hand against Russia. Since December, when it ran out of money to continue helping, the Pentagon has only shipped one more batch of weaponry.
Long-delayed $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine was passed by the House on Saturday, and the Senate may take a vote on it early the following week. According to the White House, the legislation is supported.
Leading politicians and front-line troops in Ukraine have demanded more artillery, air defenses, long-range missiles, and fighter jets, claiming that these weapons will enable their country to breach Russian defenses and maintain its positions.
The announcement that the United States is deploying more troops to Ukraine coincides with senior officials’ alert last week on Russia’s increasing influence.
In the event that Congress rejects the aid plan, Ukraine may lose the war this year, according to CIA Director Bill Burns.
In an address to Congress, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, “We’re already seeing things on the battlefield begin to shift a bit in Russia’s favor.” They are making little progress that we can observe. The Ukrainians are facing difficulties in maintaining the line.
