KYIV — Ukraine
has enough reserves to withstand the conflict with Russia for about six months
without US support, the RBC-Ukraine online media outlet reported Tuesday,
citing a senior parliament official.
"Our military-industrial complex has significantly
expanded over the past three years, and it is capable of offsetting threats and
risks," said Fedir Venislavsky, a Member of the Parliament's defence
committee.
However, he acknowledged that Ukraine relies on the United
States for certain weapons, including air defence systems and long-range
multiple-launch rocket systems.
Venislavsky said that efforts are underway to secure
alternative sources of supply for critically important weapons, Xinhua news
agency reported.
According to multiple media reports, the US administration
suspended delivery of military aid to Ukraine earlier in the day, days after
the Oval Office saw a heated exchange between the Ukrainian and US presidents
at the White House.
Between February 2022 and January 2025, Washington provided
65.9 billion US dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, according to the US
Department of State.
Meanwhile, emphasising on the "momentous and
dangerous" times and 'grave nature of the threats" faced, European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced a plan to boost
Europe's defence spendings throughout the European Union.
Addressing reporters in Brussels, Von der Leyen said that
she has written a letter to leaders ahead of Thursday's European Council,
outlined the 'ReArm Europe Plan' which features a set of proposals on how to
use all of the financial levers at disposal in order to help EU Member States
to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defence capabilities.
"In the various meetings in the last few weeks – most
recently two days ago in London – the answer from European capitals has been as
resounding as it is clear. We are in an era of rearmament. And Europe is ready
to massively boost its defence spending. Both, to respond to the short-term urgency
to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on
much more responsibility for our own European security," said European
Commission President while suggesting a proposal to provide EUR 150 billion of
loans to the Member States for defence investment.
ReArm Europe, she said, could mobilise close to EUR 800
billion for a safe and resilient Europe even while continuing to work closely
with partners in NATO.
The first part of this ReArm Europe plan, European
Commission President detailed, is to unleash the use of public funding in
defence at national level.
