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| U.S. Marines load an M777 towed 155 mm howitzer into the cargo hold of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport plane, to be delivered in Europe for Ukrainian forces |
Washington - Russia has tried to cut off Western arms supplies to Ukraine, but there is no evidence of success so far. This was conveyed by a senior Pentagon official. "That's unlikely to change," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
This contrasts with the Russian military's earlier claims that its troops managed to attack the Ukrainian arsenal where Western weapons are stored. The official added that the United States was strengthening Ukrainian forces to allow them to continue to defend Kiev.
In one of the recent moves to supply US military aid to Ukraine, President Joe Biden said the package would help Ukraine defend itself in the Donbas. But on Friday, a senior US defense official said Washington would help Ukraine defend its sovereign territory, not just the Donbas.
As for the assessment that Ukraine has suffered heavy losses in some parts of the country, the official said Ukrainian troops put themselves in a better position to defend themselves. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket systems (HIMARS), Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and Howitzers that the US and other NATO allies have transferred will help Ukraine in the coming days and weeks fight off the Russian invasion.
US President Joe Biden announced another weapons package on Thursday, including more HIMARS and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition. A patrol boat will also be provided to Ukraine, which the White House says will help Kiev defend its coastline.
Washington is committed to continuing to ensure that Ukraine is trained on the use of HIMARS and other Western-supplied weapons. "Russia is just searching the territory inch by inch," the Pentagon official said. "Nevertheless, they have suffered heavy casualties. "They [the Russians] are showing signs of wear and tear, which affects their ability to move forward quickly."