[사진출처 = 연합뉴스]The United States, which has been steadily providing weapons to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia on February 24, will provide additional weapons worth $270 million (353 billion won), including rockets and tactical drones.
“We’re going to help the Ukrainian government as long as we need it,” said John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator, who claims Russia is killing innocent civilians with rocket attacks. ‘s clear position,” he said.
In a separate press release on the same day, the Ministry of National Defense also announced that ▲ 4 high-speed mobile artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) ▲ up to 580 Phoenix Ghost tactical drones ▲ 4 command vehicles ▲ 36,000 150mm shells will be provided to Ukraine.
With this, the total amount of support from the inauguration of the Biden administration to this time has reached US$8.2 billion (10.74 trillion won).
When asked about fighter support, Coordinator Kirby said, “We are conducting a preliminary investigation,” but cautioned that “these measures are not something that can be implemented in the near future.”
Depending on the situation, it is interpreted to mean that the possibility of supporting fighters is open.
A Ministry of National Defense official said in this regard, “We are having broad discussions with Ukraine about future power demand, including aviation capabilities.”
“We are providing parts and other equipment to help Ukraine maintain its aircraft power, but there is no pilot training program currently in progress,” he said.
Although the US is showing a more flexible attitude toward Ukraine’s fighter support than before, if such a possibility is realized, the burden will be high.
This is because Russian President Vladimir Putin previously warned that if the West provides fighters to Ukraine, it will be considered an escalation of war.
In the early days of the Ukrainian War, the West mainly provided weapons necessary for defense, such as anti-tank missiles, but as the war prolongs, it is also providing some offensive weapons, such as tanks.
However, it is still cautious as far as fighter support is concerned.
A typical example is that Poland offered the US a plan to provide its 25 MiGs to Ukraine, but the US Department of Defense rejected it.
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