At least twenty countries of the European Union, including Italy, have decided in recent days to send weapons materials to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend themselves from the Russian attack. To these must be added the military contributions of the Americans, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. «But on closer inspection – explains Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo, former assistant secretary general of NATO – there is a fundamental difference between the decisions of individual governments to send weapons to Ukraine and the practical implementation of these decisions; in fact, it is not so simple and risk-free to deliver weapons to a country at war in addition to all the technical-logistical problems that exist and which also concern the diversity in standards and compatibility with the armaments already in use by the Ukrainian forces ”.
Former NATO number 2 Minuto Rizzo: “There is no NATO airlift to deliver weapons to Ukraine”
But how are these announcements by Western countries about arms aid to Ukraine that would be delivered via a NATO airlift to be explained? “In many cases – observes Minuto Rizzo – it is a question of individual member countries of the Atlantic Alliance that have taken these decisions but there is no decision by NATO as such to carry out an airlift aimed at delivering these materials”. is it aid that could change the balance of power between Russia and Ukraine by deciding the fate of the conflict? “The value of these decisions of various Western governments and parliaments – adds Minuto Rizzo – is above all political because it shows all the closeness and solidarity of many countries to Ukraine but from here to imagine that the fate of the conflict may depend on these deliveries seems to me frankly excessive “.
The weapons sent by Italy and Germany
Then there are the problems related to individual countries. The Italian government, for example, has secreted the decree that contains the exact number of Stinger surface-to-air missiles and Spike anti-tank missiles that will be delivered to Ukraine while it has been lavish with information on emergency aid (from drugs to K rations) for the civilian population the latter immediately left for Kiev. It is a decision that also aims not to blow the fire and maintain an open dialogue with Moscow. Other countries have behaved differently, which have provided details of the material available to the Ukrainian armed forces. Germany for the first time since the Second World War has decided to send 1,000 anti-tank rockets and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles for anti-aircraft by the Bundeswehr, the German air force. A small revolution compared to the policy held so far by Berlin which has always prevented the export of weapons to war zones. But, Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained: “the Russian invasion is a point of no return. It is our duty to help Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s invading army ”.
The funds allocated by the US and the EU
Most countries are sending missiles that are easy to use and transport like the Stingers. Holland is sending 200, plus 400 antitank as well as Poland and Latvia. The bulk of the deliveries naturally come from the United States. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has authorized the allocation of an additional 350 million dollars for immediate support to the Ukrainian defense, in addition to 60 last fall and 200 in December, bringing the total of American investments to over one million in the last The European Union, for its part, has allocated 450 million euros in military aid with the Peace Stability Fund. Also in this case it is an unprecedented decision taken by the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen in total autonomy, informing only the individual countries but without the need for any vote and no unanimity since it is an endowment fund of the EU that operates off the budget.
At least 15 thousand anti-tank missiles are flowing into Ukraine
According to some independent sources, at least 15 thousand anti-tank missiles are flowing into Ukraine as well as thousands of assault rifles, grenades, ammunition, helmets, bulletproof vests, communication systems. It is difficult to predict the consequences of such a transfer of arms. It remains to be seen how Moscow will react to this compact front that is taking place. NATO could be considered a “co-belligerent” but Putin already sees himself in conflict with the United States and NATO.