Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania, where 155 mm artillery shells are being produced to support Ukraine’s fight against Russian ground forces. This visit is part of a busy week in the United States for Zelenskyy as he aims to build support for Ukraine in the war. He will also address the U.N. General Assembly in New York and hold talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington.
The 155 mm artillery shells produced at the Scranton plant are crucial for Ukraine’s defense, as they are used in howitzer systems that can strike targets up to 15 to 20 miles away. Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of these shells from the U.S. However, Zelenskyy has been pushing for permission to use longer-range missile systems to target deeper inside Russia, but the Pentagon and White House have not yet loosened those restrictions due to strategic concerns.
During the peak of the war, Ukraine was firing between 6,000 and 8,000 of the 155 mm shells per day, depleting U.S. stockpiles and raising concerns about sustaining military needs in the event of another major conflict. To address this, the U.S. has invested in restarting production lines and is now manufacturing more than 40,000 155 mm rounds a month, with plans to increase production to 100,000 rounds a month. Zelenskyy is expected to meet and thank workers at the plant for their efforts in increasing production.
The U.S. has provided Ukraine with a wide range of ammunition, missile, air defense, and advanced weapons systems, making it the largest donor to Ukraine with more than $56 billion in aid. This support is seen as essential by many European nations to prevent further military aggression from Russia that could threaten bordering NATO-member countries and escalate into a larger conflict. Despite not being a member of NATO, the commitment to Ukraine’s defense is a priority for European nations to deter Russian aggression and maintain regional stability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons, threatening that it could lead to war with the United States and its NATO allies. The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with Zelenskyy seeking support from the U.S. and other allies to strengthen its defenses and protect its sovereignty. The visit to the ammunition plant in Pennsylvania highlights the importance of international support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
