Day 136: First Ukrainian Troops Arrive in UK for Training, US to Supply More Advanced Rocket Systems
The Facts
The first cohort of Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in the UK to receive military training from the country's armed forces. Britain aims to train 10K Ukrainian soldiers in the next 120 days, but defense minister Ben Wallace said the UK would be "open to more."
Meanwhile, as part of a new $400M weapons package, the US announced plans to send four more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Ukraine – so far, 12 HIMARS have been delivered. Russia said it destroyed two HIMARS on Wed., but the claim couldn't be independently confirmed.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.