U.S. aid delays limit Ukraine's defense and give Russia flexibility to attack - ISW

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

Analysts note that the US delays in providing military assistance to Ukraine limit the ability of Ukrainian forces to conduct effective defense operations, while providing Russian forces with flexibility in conducting offensive operations.

The ISW noted that this dynamic could lead to operationally significant successes in the future. 

"Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a constant air domain offense-defense innovation-adaptation race, in which Russia continues to adjust the timing, scale, composition, and targets of its strike packages to attempt to penetrate Ukraine’s air defense umbrella," the report says.

The ISW emphasizes that significant delays in U.S. military aid have already caused a shortage of Ukrainian air defense missile stockpiles and hindered Ukraine's ability to adapt to Russian attacks.

"Limited air defense systems and interceptors have forced Ukraine to make difficult decisions to allocate air defense systems between rear and frontline areas leaving frontline troops largely exposed to Russian air attack, and only the United States can rapidly provide air defense systems to Ukraine at the scale necessary to significantly improve Ukraine’s air defense capabilities," the analysts emphasized.

• On April 12, media reported that Mike Johnson was negotiating with the White House on Republican amendments to the aid package for Ukraine and Israel.
• On April 15, 91 congressmen representing both parties signed a letter in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to introduce the Senate-approved bill to aid Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan to the House for an "immediate vote."
• The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is ready to consider the initiative of House Speaker Mike Johnson to divide the international aid bill into 4 separate parts, including aid to Ukraine.