The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, announced during his visit to Kiev two additional packages of military aid to Ukraine. The first, amounting to 400 million dollars, will be used to reinforce the Ukrainian Army with ammunition, military equipment, and armament. The second package involves an unprecedented investment of 800 million dollars in the Ukrainian military industry to increase the production of long-range weapons and improve Ukraine's defense capability.
During a press conference in Italy, Austin explained that these investments aim to expand Ukraine's drone manufacturing, highlighting their precision in hitting targets located at great distances. The Secretary of Defense stated that drones manufactured in Ukraine have proven effective in striking targets more than 400 kilometers away, representing a strategic advantage in the current conflict.
Despite Ukraine's efforts to lift the ban on using U.S. missiles against targets in Russia, the White House has opted for an alternative solution. The main focus of this additional aid is to boost drone production in Ukraine rather than authorize the use of missiles against targets in Russia.
President Zelensky's Victory Plan includes a request to use Western missiles, such as the ATACMS, to strengthen Ukraine's position in the conflict with Russia. However, the investment in drone production points to a longer-term strategy, as Austin explained, considering that these devices can hit targets at greater distances than the missiles currently available to Ukraine.
Although frustration persists in Ukraine due to the need to defend itself with limitations imposed by Western allies, the push for mass drone production is seen as a strategic measure to undermine Russian air superiority and improve military logistics in the conflict. Austin emphasized that this investment will ensure Ukraine effective defense capabilities both now and in the future.
In this context, mass drone production presents itself as an effective and cost-efficient alternative compared to the use of ballistic missiles. Austin highlighted the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones in reaching key targets, such as air bases and enemy supply depots, which could change the balance of power on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine's position in the conflict.
