Western Nations to Send More Arms to Ukraine
2022-06-02
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1Western nations promised to send even more and better weapons to Ukraine, as Russian forces are close to capturing an important city in the east.
2Germany said Wednesday it will supply Ukraine with modern anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems.
3And the United States' shipment will include modern, medium-range rocket systems.
4Western weapons have been very important to Ukraine's success in fighting Russia's much larger and better equipped military.
5The supplies made it possible for Ukraine to prevent Russia from taking its capital early in the war.
6Russia has had to instead center its attention on the eastern industrial Donbas area.
7As the war goes on, Ukraine has continued to ask for more and better weapons.
8Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sometimes criticized Western nations for moving too slowly in sending arms.
9Military experts say Russia is hoping to take over the Donbas before any weapons arrive that might help Ukraine fight Russia off.
10Germany has especially come under criticism, both at home and from international allies, that it is not doing enough.
11German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers that the missiles it will send are the most modern air defense system the country has.
12Scholz said Germany and the U.S. are working together on their moves.
13In addition to the rocket systems it has promised, the U.S. will send helicopters, anti-tank weapon systems, vehicles, extra parts and more, said two senior American officials.
14One official said that the rockets, with a range of 80 kilometers,
15will give Ukrainian forces a greater ability to target Russian forces inside Ukraine.
16But they could not reach far into Russian territory.
17Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday the Kremlin does not trust Kyiv's promises that the rocket systems will not be used to attack Russia.
18"We believe that the U.S. is deliberately and diligently pouring fuel on the fire," Peskov said.
19The announcements come as a Ukraine official said Russian forces now control 70 percent of Sievierodonetsk.
20The city is important to Moscow's efforts to complete their capture of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
21Russian-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces for years in Donbas and the separatists already held large areas.
22Donetsk and Luhansk are the two areas that make up the Donbas.
23Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said on the Telegram messaging app that some Ukrainian troops have pulled back from the city.
24But he later told The Associated Press that the troops who remained were fighting in the streets.
25Lysychansk is the only other city in Luhansk that Russians have not yet captured.
26It is still "fully" under Ukrainian control, Haidai said, but it would likely be next.
27I'm Dan Novak.
1Western nations promised to send even more and better weapons to Ukraine, as Russian forces are close to capturing an important city in the east. 2Germany said Wednesday it will supply Ukraine with modern anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems. And the United States' shipment will include modern, medium-range rocket systems. 3Western weapons have been very important to Ukraine's success in fighting Russia's much larger and better equipped military. The supplies made it possible for Ukraine to prevent Russia from taking its capital early in the war. Russia has had to instead center its attention on the eastern industrial Donbas area. 4As the war goes on, Ukraine has continued to ask for more and better weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sometimes criticized Western nations for moving too slowly in sending arms. Military experts say Russia is hoping to take over the Donbas before any weapons arrive that might help Ukraine fight Russia off. 5Germany has especially come under criticism, both at home and from international allies, that it is not doing enough. 6German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers that the missiles it will send are the most modern air defense system the country has. Scholz said Germany and the U.S. are working together on their moves. 7In addition to the rocket systems it has promised, the U.S. will send helicopters, anti-tank weapon systems, vehicles, extra parts and more, said two senior American officials. 8One official said that the rockets, with a range of 80 kilometers, will give Ukrainian forces a greater ability to target Russian forces inside Ukraine. But they could not reach far into Russian territory. 9Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday the Kremlin does not trust Kyiv's promises that the rocket systems will not be used to attack Russia. 10"We believe that the U.S. is deliberately and diligently pouring fuel on the fire," Peskov said. 11Russian forces advancing 12The announcements come as a Ukraine official said Russian forces now control 70 percent of Sievierodonetsk. The city is important to Moscow's efforts to complete their capture of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. 13Russian-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces for years in Donbas and the separatists already held large areas. Donetsk and Luhansk are the two areas that make up the Donbas. 14Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said on the Telegram messaging app that some Ukrainian troops have pulled back from the city. But he later told The Associated Press that the troops who remained were fighting in the streets. 15Lysychansk is the only other city in Luhansk that Russians have not yet captured. It is still "fully" under Ukrainian control, Haidai said, but it would likely be next. 16I'm Dan Novak. 17Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 18________________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20range - n. a specified distance 21deliberate - adj. done or said in a way that is planned or intended : done or said on purpose 22diligent - n. careful hard work 23region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way