Ukraine requests to purchase more Javelin anti-tank systems

The Ukrainian government has requested to purchase
more Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the U.S. Defense Department, U.S.
Charges d’Affaires ad interim William Taylor told Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty in an interview published on Aug. 5. The decision is “a move that would
bolster its defenses and add to its stock of Javelins received last year but
would also likely anger Russia,” tweeted Christopher Miller, an RFE/RL
reporter. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst has called upon the U.S.
government to consider offering more Javelin systems to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has initiated a
new approach for the government in its defense cooperation with the U.S.,
adopting “serious changes regarding Ukraine’s role,” National Security and
Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Danylyuk said in a radio interview on Aug.
2. “It’s time to leave the role of victim and walking around the world asking
for help,” Danylyuk said. “We are a strong country. We have a strategic
significance in the region and we should be a reliable partner for our
strategic partners. We should act as a subject, not an object.”

Defense issues occupy about 80% of the daily agenda
between Ukraine and the U.S., Danylyuk said. “This is very important and, during
the meetings of our leaders and will be the foundation, in essence, for these
talks in the future,” he said. Zelensky said on Aug. 3 that he is planning a
trip to meet U.S. President Trump in Washington in September. During a working
visit to Washington on July 11, Danylyuk met with U.S. National Security
Adviser John Bolton, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and U.S. Special Envoy to
Ukraine Kurt Volker to discuss Zelensky’s visit, among other topics.

Zenon Zawada: The goal of
becoming an active player in international relations makes perfect sense for
Ukraine if corruption is reduced and rule of law is introduced. It’s the
rampant corruption and absent rule of law that have been Ukraine’s greatest
impediments so far in being taken seriously on the international arena.

Buying more Javelins from the U.S. doesn’t contradict
the Zelensky administration’s goal of becoming an influential player in
international relations. Requesting them as a donation would have.