U.S. aid remains 'vital' for Ukraine to build its defense industrial base - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported the information.

Analysts suggest that the United States will not need to send large aid packages if Ukraine successfully produces its own weapons domestically. The United States should support Ukraine for several more years while the country builds its own defense industry base.

"US and partner military aid to Ukraine in the near term therefore continues to be crucial as the US remains the main source of sufficiently large quantities of essential military equipment, such as M1 Abrams tanks, armored personnel carriers, advanced air defense systems such as Patriots, and long-range strike systems - equipment which previous US aid packages prioritized," the analysts write.

• On January 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US House Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of the congressional leadership to discuss support for Ukraine.
• On February 1, media reported that Mike Johnson believes that the US national security program, which includes assistance to Ukraine, will be divided over border policy.
• On February 3, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson announced that next week there would be a vote on a separate $17.6 billion aid package for Israel without aid to Ukraine.
• On February 4, at the third annual Ukraine Week summit held in Washington, DC, a delegation of the Baltic states called on the US Congress to provide funding for Ukraine.
• On February 5, the administration of US President Joe Biden announced its plans to veto the bill to provide aid to Israel, as the White House considers it incomplete.
• During his address to Congress, US President Joe Biden called Trump the main problem in providing aid to Ukraine.
• On February 6, House Republicans did not support Speaker Mike Johnson's bill to provide military aid to Israel without assistance to Ukraine.