OFFENSIVE WEAPONS FOR UKRAINE
The U.S. and its allies are increasingly arming Ukraine with offensive weapons (tanks, armor-ed personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles) in addition to defensive weapons (anti-tank missiles, missile defense systems, medium range artillery). The M-1 Abrams (US) and Leopard (Germany) tanks are considered best in class, and they will arrive soon. The West’s and Ukraine’s focus seems to be more on taking back territory from Russia (including Crimea, occupied since 2014) and less on defense against Russian attacks.
Observers of military affairs are calling the current situation in Ukraine a stalemate. Many expect a Russian offensive in late winter or early spring. New levies of Russians are completing their military training. Russian arms factories are on triple shifts. New weapons, new troops, more death and destruction. Where will this end?
(Sources: NPR, 1/20/23 and The Economist, 1/22/23, updated 1/25/23)