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U.S. NEWS Thursday 11 april 2024
Ukraine will be outgunned by Russia 10 to 1 in weeks without U.S.

help, top Europe general says

By TARA COPP own production of missiles
Associated Press has ramped up and can
WASHINGTON (AP) — The launch large-scale attacks
top general for U.S. forces every few days. If Ukraine’s
in Europe told Congress air defense stocks run out,
Wednesday that Ukraine “those attacks would abso-
will be outgunned 10 to one lutely cripple the economy,
by Russia within a matter and the civil society as well
of weeks if Congress does as the military of Ukraine if
not find a way to approve they were not defended
sending more ammunition against without a U.S. pro-
and weapons to Kyiv soon. vision of interceptors,” Ca-
The testimony from Army voli said. “Their ability to de-
Gen. Christopher Cavoli, fend their terrain that they
head of U.S. European currently hold and their air-
Command, and Celeste space would fade rapidly,
Wallander, assistant sec- will fade rapidly without the
retary of defense for inter- supplemental,” Cavoli said.
national security affairs, If Kyiv falls, it could im-
comes as Congress enters peril Ukraine’s Baltic NATO
pivotal weeks for voting for member neighbors and
aid for Ukraine, but there’s potentially drag U.S. troops
no guarantee funding will into a prolonged Euro-
be improved in time. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli addresses a media conference at pean war. At a Capitol Hill
Ukraine has been rationing NATO headquarters in Brussels, Jan. 18, 2024. press conference Wednes-
its munitions as Congress Associated Press day Johnson said, “House
has delayed passing its $60 talking hypothetically.” who cite domestic needs, Cavoli told the lawmakers members are continuing to
billion supplemental bill. Republican House Speaker including border security. that in this conflict, the U.S. actively discuss our options
“They are now being out- Mike Johnson has been try- The speaker is also facing a flow of 155mm artillery shells on a path forward.”
shot by the Russian side five ing to find a way forward threat to his leadership role has been a lifeline. “The “It’s a very complicated
to one. So the Russians fire for the bill that would fund from his far-right flank by biggest killer on the battle- matter at a very compli-
five times as many artillery new rounds of munitions Georgia Republican Rep. field is artillery. In most con- cated time. The clock is
shells at the Ukrainians than production at U.S. firms to Marjorie Taylor Greene who flicts, but in this one defi- ticking on it, and everyone
the Ukrainians are able to enable the Pentagon to has called for his ouster nitely. And should Ukraine here feels the urgency of
fire back. That will immedi- then rush more munitions over the issue. run out, they would run that, but what’s required
ately go to 10 to one in a to Ukraine. Johnson is trying While the political battles out because we stopped is that you reach consen-
matter of weeks,” Cavoli to bring it to the floor for a on Capitol Hill continue, supplying because we sus on it, and that’s what
said. “We’re not talking House vote, but he is facing the dire battlefield situation supply the lion’s share of we’re working on,” John-
about months. We’re not concerns from members in Ukraine worsens. that,” Cavoli said. Russia’s son said.q

Japan is giving Washington 250 new cherry trees to replace those

to be lost in construction work

By WILL WEISSERT trees are timeless, inspiring hold talks on the delicate
Associated Press and thriving.” security situation in the Pa-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ja- In 1912, first lady Helen Her- cific. The state dinner is de-
pan is giving the United ron Taft and Viscountess signed to celebrate one of
States 250 new cherry Chinda, wife of the Japa- Biden’s strongest allies.
trees to help replace the nese ambassador to the Senior administration of-
hundreds that are being United States, planted two ficials noted on a call with
ripped out this summer as Yoshino cherry trees on the reporters that the two most
construction crews work to northern bank of the Po- important gifts that foreign
repair the crumbling sea- tomac River’s Tidal Basin. countries have given the
wall around the capital’s They were part of the 3,000 United States are arguably
Tidal Basin. such trees Japan gave the the Statue of Liberty which
Japanese Prime Minister U.S. in a symbol of the two came from the French and
Fumio Kishida made the countries’ friendship. was dedicated in 1886
announcement as Presi- The trees blossom in bril- and Japan’s cherry trees in
dent Joe Biden welcomed liant pinks and reds each Washington. The Washington Monument is visible behind a cherry
him to the White House on spring and draw more than The Tidal Basin is a 107-acre tree affectionally nicknamed ‘Stumpy’, March 19, 2024 in
Wednesday for an official 1 million visitors to Washing- manmade reservoir border- Washington.
visit and state dinner. Biden ton. The aesthetics of the ing the Jefferson Memorial Associated Press
said the gift is meant to nation’s capital aside, the that is home to the highest
mark the 250th anniversary latest gift reflects the geo- concentration of cherry Japanese learned that tion work, they immediately
of the U.S. in 2026, adding, political alliance between blossom trees. The senior some of the trees would be offered to provide saplings
“Like our friendship, these Biden and Kishida as they officials said that when the felled due to the construc- when the time was right.q