Ukrainian President to Visit Pennsylvania Ammo Factory to Thank Workers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania on Sunday. This facility plays a vital role in supplying essential munitions for Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russian forces.

Zelenskyy is expected at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant as part of a busy week aimed at securing additional support for Ukraine. U.S. officials familiar with his schedule revealed that he will also participate in discussions at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and meet with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington on Thursday.

The Scranton facility is one of the few in the United States dedicated to producing 155 mm artillery shells. These shells are crucial for howitzer systems, which are large towed guns capable of firing at varying angles. They offer the ability to hit targets from considerable distances, approximately 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 kilometers) away, making them invaluable for ground forces needing to strike from a safe range.

To date, Ukraine has received over 3 million of these 155 mm shells from the U.S. as part of its defense strategy. As the conflict enters its third year, Zelenskyy has been pressing the U.S. for permission to access longer-range missile systems that could allow Ukrainian forces to target deeper inside Russia.

However, the Pentagon and the White House remain cautious about loosening these restrictions. They highlight that Ukraine already has the capacity to reach targets in Moscow using domestically produced drones. There is significant concern over the implications of potentially deploying U.S.-made missiles that could strike the Russian capital, especially in light of warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has indicated that such actions would amount to a state of war between Russia and the U.S., as well as its NATO allies.

At the height of the conflict, Ukraine was using between 6,000 and 8,000 155 mm shells daily. This high rate of fire raised alarms about the depletion of U.S. stockpiles, leading to worries regarding the military’s readiness for any other unexpected conventional conflicts, such as a potential conflict over Taiwan.

In response to these concerns, U.S. authorities have taken measures to ramp up production lines, currently manufacturing over 40,000 155 mm rounds each month with ambitions to reach 100,000. During his visit, Zelenskyy is expected to express his gratitude to the workers who have played a pivotal role in increasing shell production over the past year.

Joining Zelenskyy at the plant will be two leaders from the Pentagon who have advocated for this surge in production: Doug Bush, the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, and Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s primary weapons buyer. Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro is also anticipated to be present during this visit.

The 155 mm rounds are just one component of the extensive support package that the U.S. has provided to Ukraine, which includes a wide array of ammunition, missiles, air defense units, and advanced weapon systems. The U.S. has emerged as the largest donor to Ukraine, contributing over $56 billion of the more than $106 billion provided by NATO and partner nations to assist in Ukraine’s defense efforts.

While Ukraine is not a NATO member, many European countries view their commitment to Ukraine’s defense as crucial. They believe that supporting Ukraine’s fight is necessary to deter further military aggression from Putin, which could pose threats to neighboring NATO member states and escalate into a broader conflict.

Source: local news outlets