Nineteen retired US generals and former officials are urging President Joe Biden's administration to send more arms to Ukraine or risk “unintentionally seizing defeat from the jaws of victory”.
In an opinion piece for The Hill, the former generals, diplomats and officials said the US has been reluctant to provide the war-torn country with heavier ammunition out of fear of provoking Russia into using its nuclear arsenal.
“We may think that each day we delay providing Ukraine the weapons it needs to win, we are avoiding a confrontation with the Kremlin,” the piece read.
“To the contrary, we are merely increasing the probability that we will face that danger on less favourable grounds.”
Among those who signed the article were Philip Breedlove, former supreme commander of Nato forces in Europe; Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to Nato; and Marie Yovanovitch, former US ambassador to Ukraine.
Pentagon figures show that the US has sent more than $9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion on February 24, including a recent $1bn in security assistance announced last week.
The most recent package included munitions for Himars defence systems, but the former generals and officials argued that the administration should deliver them in larger quantities to “maximise their impact on the battlefield”.
Such weapons, they said, would stop Moscow's aggression.
“With the necessary weapons and economic aid, Ukraine can defeat Russia,” they wrote.
Kyiv, they argued, also needs long-range weapons such as Army Tactical Missile Systems, which have a range of up to 300 kilometres.
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum last month, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration has been reluctant to take such a step to avoid a “third world war”.
The signatories added that nuclear deterrence is still an effective tool, and that Russia's threats to use the weapons in its arsenal have proved hollow.
“It is to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's advantage to threaten nuclear war, but not to initiate it,” they wrote.
US Himars multiple launch rocket system — in pictures
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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