Additional Support for Ukraine Requested by Biden
French Parliament Approves Ukraine Security Agreement
"Russian Shell Production Three Times Higher Than West"
Polish President Andrzej Duda, visiting the United States, appealed for additional support for Ukraine, warning that if Russia wins the war in Ukraine, other European countries could also be invaded. As Western artillery and weapons support for Ukraine sharply declined, causing cracks on the eastern front, security concerns among countries neighboring Russia have intensified. Attention is also focused on whether the movement to deploy combat troops to Ukraine, proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, will gain momentum in Europe.
"Russia Must Be Stopped"...Appeal for Support to Ukraine
On the 12th (local time), President Duda, after holding talks with President Joe Biden during his visit to the United States, appeared on Bloomberg TV and said, "What Ukraine needs today is to prevent Putin from winning the war," warning, "If Russia wins the war in Ukraine, they will attack other European countries again."
Earlier, President Duda, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, visited the White House and held talks with President Biden, requesting an expansion of support for Ukraine as well as increased military support for Poland. They reportedly specifically requested additional troop deployments to Poland and the sale of more advanced weapons.
Recently, after the Ukrainian forces failed in a counteroffensive on the eastern front of Ukraine, Russia launched a large-scale offensive, significantly raising security concerns among countries neighboring Russia. The U.S. support package for Ukraine has been hampered in Congress due to opposition from the Republican Party, leading to a sharp reduction in artillery support, causing difficulties for the Ukrainian military.
"Russian Artillery Production Three Times That of the West"...Concerns Over Frontline Collapse
The U.S. government announced that, as the passage of the support bill in Congress is delayed, it will provide urgent support worth $300 million (approximately 394.3 billion KRW) using its own resources. Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, explained at a White House regular briefing, "Today, on behalf of President Joe Biden, we are announcing an emergency security assistance package worth $300 million to meet Ukraine's urgent needs for weapons and equipment."
However, this level of military support is expected to be insufficient to change the situation on the Ukrainian front. It is known that Russia's annual production and procurement of artillery shells from third countries is nearly three times greater than the support provided by the U.S. and Western countries, leading to concerns that the longer the war drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for Ukraine.
According to CNN, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) estimates Russia's monthly artillery shell production at about 250,000 rounds, with an annual procurement of approximately 3 million rounds. In contrast, the annual artillery shell support from the U.S. and Europe to Ukraine is only about 1.2 million rounds. CNN pointed out that the U.S. government's target for artillery shell production next year is about 100,000 rounds per month, which is less than half of Russia's output.
This difference in artillery shell procurement is even more pronounced on the battlefield. CNN reported, "Russia is firing about 10,000 shells per day, while Ukraine is limited to about 2,000," adding, "A serious shortage of supplies has emerged at the most critical point in the war."
There is also speculation that Russia may complete troop reinforcements by late spring or summer this year and shift to a large-scale offensive. The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated, "The Russian military command aims to establish a mechanized rifle division for offensive operations continuing from spring to summer this year," and analyzed, "The speed of the Russian military's advance will largely depend on the extent of U.S. military support."
French Parliament Approves Ukraine Security Agreement...Will Troop Deployment Follow?
As it is expected that the Ukrainian military will have difficulty withstanding Russia's summer offensive, some European countries, centered on France, are showing signs of troop deployment. However, intense debates continue within France, making it unlikely that troop deployment will occur in the short term.
According to local media France24, the French Parliament approved a security agreement with Ukraine with 372 votes in favor, 99 against, and 101 abstentions. The agreement centers on France providing security support to Ukraine for ten years. It includes promises to supply weapons to Ukraine, train soldiers, and provide military aid worth up to 3 billion euros (approximately 4.3 trillion KRW).
The agreement became a subject of debate inside and outside France following President Macron's remarks suggesting the possibility of deploying ground troops to Ukraine. At a press conference after the international conference on Ukraine support held in Paris on the 26th of last month, President Macron hinted at the possibility of troop deployment, saying, "It should not be excluded," sparking controversy.
While opposition parties in France have strongly opposed President Macron's troop deployment plan, public opinion in France overwhelmingly opposes troop deployment. According to a survey by the French polling agency Elabe, 79% of French citizens oppose the deployment of combat troops, while 52% support non-combat roles for the French military.
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