Following the approval of the Senate on 24 April, the United States provides Ukraine with another US$61 billion military aid. As well-known, in recent months, the United States has effectively halted the transfer of military aid to Ukraine due to opposing views in the Congress. According to media sources, the package will include vehicles, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, extra HIMARS ammunition, 155-mm artillery shells, and TOW and Javelin anti-tank ammunition. It was reported earlier that most weapons from the US aid package for Ukraine are already in storages in Germany and Poland.
Almost simultaneously with the renewal of the US aid package, the European Union also decided on new financial aid to Ukraine. During the European summit held on 17-18 April in Brussels, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that assistance to Ukraine is not a matter of months, but of days and weeks. In his press statement Michel noted that during the meeting, EU leaders once again demonstrated unity, particularly in supporting Ukraine. ’Two points are extremely important. First point: we don’t need so many words, as they (the Ukrainians) need more military equipment. We had a very good discussion and we understand that member states, especially those with some capacities, some capabilities, they know, they understand it is very important to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems, more ammunition.’, he said. The second important conclusion after the discussion regarding Ukraine, in Michel’s opinion, is the support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula, especially ahead of the peace conference scheduled to take place in Switzerland this June.
For war, two things are needed – money and manpower, this is a cliché. And look, what was Ukraine’s next move after it achieved success with the money? Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that his country is suspending consular services to Ukrainian men liable for military service residing abroad.
’If anyone believes that while someone is fighting far away at the frontline and risking his or her life for this state, someone else is staying abroad but receiving services from this state, then this is not how it works. Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the Homeland. That is why yesterday I ordered measures to restore fair attitudes toward men of conscription age in Ukraine and abroad. This will be fair,’ he said.
These words belong to a top Ukrainian official who is considered liable for military service by his age but who has never met death on the battlefields and is unlikely to find himself in such a situation in his lifetime.
Some European countries are ready to extradite citizens of Ukraine liable for military service. All this is only a question of time.
If any EU Member State commits, in fact, such an inhuman act, as hunting down and handing over Ukrainian men liable for military service to Ukraine it will signal the moral failure of the West. As for me, I am laying all my hopes on the peace conference in Switzerland in June, and I hope that a decision may be taken there that will save Ukrainian men from senseless death and the EU from taking inhumane measures.
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