No decision to send troops to Ukraine yet
Regarding the US sending of troops into Ukraine, on May 23, General Mark Milley - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that any feasible decision on this move is still far away even though he acknowledged that low-level planning is being implemented.
Since 2015, the US has often sent reserve soldiers of the National Guard to Ukraine to support training and consultation. However, President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw forces from Ukraine ahead of the Russia-Ukraine war on February 24 to avoid direct conflict with a nuclear-powered country.
However, the changing context, including the US reopening of the Embassy in Kiev, raises questions about whether the US military can return to ensure the security of US diplomats in a country in conflict.
General Milley admitted at a press conference on May 23 that the deployment of some levels of personnel is being planned ahead of a potential decision to send the US military back to Ukraine.
However, that plan has not been considered by him or the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In the event of this intention, the final decision depends on President Joe Biden.
"In the end, any re-entry of US forces into Ukraine requires a presidential decision," Mr. Milley noted.
Mr. Milley did not clarify whether he was referring to planning to reduce the US military to ensure the US diplomatic presence in Ukraine or the ability for other activities, Reuters pointed out.
The Pentagon is helping Ukraine share intelligence and send weapons.
20 new countries provide aid to Ukraine
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said about 20 countries have pledged new security aid packages to Ukraine after a multilateral conference on how to meet Kiev's needs, according to The Hill.
The online conference on military aid to Ukraine is the second meeting of the Ukrainian contact group since Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine in late February. The conference was attended by defense ministers and leaders from 47 countries.
The Ukrainian contact group was established last month when officials met at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany to discuss how to meet Ukraine's defense needs.
Many countries are providing extremely necessary sponsorship for artillery shells, coastguards and tanks and other armored vehicles. Other countries have made a new commitment to training Ukrainian forces and maintaining their military systems, Austin said at the Pentagon after the online conference.
Among the weapons pledged was a Harpoon launcher and a missile from Denmark to help Ukraine protect the countrys coast, Mr. Austin said.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has agreed to provide significant support, including recent funding for attack helicopters, tanks and missile systems, the Pentagon chief added.
In addition, Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland have all announced sponsorship of new artillery and ammunition systems.
At the press conference, US Secretary of Defense Austin also expressed his delight at the participation of a number of other countries in the Ukrainian countries in the second meeting of the contact group, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Ireland and Kosovo.
"After today's discussion, I am pleased to announce that we are stepping up efforts," he said.
Western countries are trying to send Ukraine weapons and equipment to help it in its conflict with Russia. To date, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has forced 6.5 million people to flee the country and another 8 million to flee domestically.
Minister Austin also announced that the third meeting of the Ukrainian contact group will take place in person in Brussels on June 15, at the same time as the upcoming NATO Defense Minister meeting.
Regarding Denmark's provision of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and launch pads to Ukraine, another Reuters report said that this is a signal that Kiev will receive more US-made weapons to significantly expand the range of attack.
Ukraine has been searching for more advanced weapons such as air defense systems, anti-ship missiles and longer-range missiles, but so far the majority of the aid is short-range systems such as anti-tank Javelin weapons and artillery.
The Harpoon missile could be used to push the Russian Navy out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, allowing continued exports of grain and other agricultural products.
Mr. Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), commented that "this is an important and measurable move" to improve Ukraine's combat capabilities and intensity. According to him, the Harpoon missile manufactured by Boeing could help Ukraine threaten high-value Russian ships attacking Ukraine from the Black Sea or other places.
US congressional sources and a US official told Reuters that Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missiles are lacking, so the Harpoon missile provides Ukraine with more capability to repel Russian ships and begin mine clearing.
With the Harpoon missile, Ukraine could rely on other countries for targeting data to effectively use the system to fight ships at longer range, Karako noted.
Several countries are willing to send Harpoons to Ukraine, but none want to be the first or only due to concerns about possible retaliation, according to US officials.
