/r/ActionForUkraine
Impactful ways to support Ukraine politically in your country, and serious news and analysis.
If you live in a democracy, elected officials are your voice in government. Contacting your representative is highly effective: aides of representatives will record the number of people who voice support for an issue, which in turn impacts the stance the representative takes.
It is imperative that you contact your representative, meaning the person you can vote for or against in the next election. Many countries have official sites that require you to pass basic verification to ensure you're contacting your representative. If no verification exists, it is important you mention in your letter or call that you are from that representative's district.
Surprisingly few people take the time to contact their representatives. A letter or call may take minutes from your day, but will have a colossal impact.
/r/ActionForUkraine
Despite repeated promises to send all of the already authorized Ukraine aid before the new administration, the US is not even close to meeting this promise. Let's recap and review the figures.
On September 25, President Biden announced he plans to "surge" security assistance to Ukraine. He stated that all remaining congressionally authorized funding will be delivered before the administration closes out activities in January.
On November 12, the Pentagon stated that there remains:
- $7.1 billion in PDA (weaponry sent from existing American stocks, the fastest type of aid)
- $2.2 billion in USAI (funding for production with the American defense industry, can take years to manufacture and deliver)
On November 14, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated:
“The president made clear that he wants to spend down the authority that Congress has allocated and authorized before he leaves office. So we're going to work very hard to make sure that happens. You've seen us roll out very large packages from the beginning and you've seen us roll out a range of packages on a pretty frequent basis, almost weekly. So, I expect that for the next coming months of this administration you're going to continue to see those packages draw down from what's available in our stockpiles.”
Unfortunately this rhetoric does not align with reality. There have not been packages “almost weekly” - there have been two packages per month. At the current rate Biden’s goal will not even come close to being met:
PDA "surge" totals (source):
September: $625m (2 packages)
October: $825m (2 packages)
November: $700m (2 packages)
Assuming packages continue at the previous monthly max ($825m):
December: $825m
By January 15: $413m
There will remain unused on January 15 a whopping $5.587 billion of unspent PDA.
France's Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a BBC interview that Ukraine can target Russian territory with French long-range missiles.
He added that the West should not have any "red lines" in supporting Ukraine. Asked if this could mean French troops going to war, he said: "We are not ruling out any option."
This strategic ambiguity practiced by French officials is extremely welcome, and something the US could use more of. When Biden stated at the beginning of the war what the US will not do, Putin understood precisely what he can do, and the overly cautious, limited nature of US support for Ukraine.
Germany has delivered:
- 1 TRML-4D RADARS (IRIS-T)
- 4 PZH-2000 Self-propelled howitzers
- 47 MRAPS
- 41,000 155mm Artillery Shells
- MARDER Ammunition
- 7 M109 Howitzer Tubes
- 20 Vector Recon Drones
- 12 Hornert XR Recon Drones
- 60 Golden Eagle Recon Drones
- 2 VT-4 Rochen Recon Drones
- 100 RQ-35 Heidrun Recon Drones
- 139 Songbird Recon Drones
- 2 BEAVER Bridge-laying Tanks
- 3 WISENT-1 Mine Clearing Tanks
- 3 Mine Clearing Ploughs
- 8 Air Assault Caracal
- 20 Border Protection Vehicles
- 6 M1070 OSHKOSH Transporters
- 8,000 40mm Ammunition Rounds
- 74,000 338 Ammunition Rounds
- 100,000 Small Ammunition Rounds
- 55,000 Tourniquets
- 100,000 Chest Seals
(the above lists newly delivered in the latest package, not total delivered)
Source: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/military-support-ukraine-2054992