Why did Erdogan say that the allies are supplying Ukraine with "junk"?Erdogan's statement about the supply of "junk" by the West to Ukraine raised many questions, writes the Al Jazeera website.
The weapon proved ineffective on the battlefield. Perhaps the West does not want to send the latest models of equipment, so as not to provoke Moscow to use advanced weapons in response.
The recent statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the West's sending of "junk" to Ukraine caused great surprise and questions about the combat characteristics and quality of weapons received by Kiev during the conflict.
"They say that weapons are supplied to Ukraine by the West. They are sending trash to Kiev," said the Turkish leader, who has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also plays a mediating role in resolving the crisis between Moscow and Kiev.
Despite receiving shipments of Harpoon, HIMARS, howitzers and other high-quality weapons, Ukraine is constantly asking allies for additional supplies of ammunition and equipment in order to confront Russia in a conflict that has been going on for about seven months.
Double opportunity
At the same time, statements were repeatedly made by a number of European countries about sending used weapons, military equipment or spare parts to Ukraine, and some demanded to update the arsenal and send the latest models of equipment to the country.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, military expert Faiz al-Asmar noted: "The special operation in Ukraine provided an opportunity for two groups of states. So, developed countries, led by the United States, got a chance to test their advanced weapons on the battlefield."
Meanwhile, the Eastern European countries neighboring Ukraine have found an excellent opportunity to use up their weapons and ammunition, getting rid of the accumulated equipment in military warehouses over the years. Some of them were produced decades ago, back in the days of the Soviet Union.
Restocking
In June, Polish President Andrzej Duda called on European countries to send his country used weapons to replenish the arsenal after helping Ukraine.
He said: "We are providing Ukraine with the largest military assistance that we have ever provided to another state. We are the main country transferring heavy weapons. We are talking about hundreds of tanks, combat vehicles, artillery, as well as drones, MANPADS, hundreds of thousands of pieces of ammunition, spare parts and other means and techniques."
In this regard, the Polish president stressed that his country needs a quick replenishment of the military arsenal, noting that the weapons he is asking for do not necessarily have to be new.
"The Weapon Eater"
Ukraine's allies, especially at the beginning of the Russian special operation, facilitated the supply of weapons to Kiev from neighboring countries in order not to waste the time needed to transport Western weapons and obtain permits from governments to send them.
According to al-Asmar, the arena of hostilities in Ukraine stretches for hundreds of kilometers, and therefore actively "devours" the weapons of both sides of the conflict. Since the fighting is taking place on Ukrainian territory, Kiev needs all means and equipment, both old and modern, especially since in recent months Russia has struck a significant number of Ukrainian warehouses.
In mid-August, as part of Western aid, Ukrainians received four military helicopters from Latvia, a member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
According to the Ministry of Defense of Latvia, two of the four Mi-17 helicopters and two Mi-2 helicopters were delivered to Ukraine in disassembled form. The aircraft produced in the Soviet Union were repainted, and one of the two Mi-17s was completely repaired.
Russian rhetoric
Russia continues to report information about the conduct of hostilities and the amount of weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine. According to these data, NATO members are sending Kiev, along with modern military equipment, lots of old weapons.
Two weeks ago, the Russia Today agency quoted Russian media reports that the Ukrainian army received from Lithuania an American 15-mm Howitzer and 105-mm Howitzer M101, the production of which was launched 81 years ago.
As noted in the reports, after the Second World War, the aforementioned weapons were used in Korea and Vietnam. In addition, 20 years ago Denmark received 72 howitzers of this model. She delivered 18 of them to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Washington and other allies of Kiev, led by Germany, announced the supply of modern self-propelled howitzers, which have played a major role in recent armed clashes.
As for Erdogan's words about the supply of "junk" by the West, according to a military expert, the statement of the Turkish president does not necessarily have to be taken literally. He could have meant that some of the means and equipment received by Kiev are old or ineffective, but at the same time any weapon plays an important role in the course of hostilities, be it helicopters for transporting military personnel, ambulances or even used vehicles.
In addition, it is possible that Western states deliberately did not provide Kiev with the weapons it needs to gain military superiority over Moscow, including combat aircraft, long-range missile systems and tanks. Otherwise, it will mean that these countries are actually participating in hostilities, which increases the possibility of unleashing a third world war, which everyone avoids.
Author: Aladdin Khader (اللاء الدين خضر)
