SCRANTON, Pa. — In extraordinarily tight security, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday visited the Pennsylvania ammunition factory that produces one of the most critical ammunition needed for the country’s war to fend off Russian ground forces.
Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat who was among those who met with Zelenskyy at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, said the president had a simple message: “Thank you. And we need more.”
The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to produce 155 mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year. Ukraine has received more than 3 million people from the US
Zelenskyy’s visit kicks off a busy week in the United States as he works hard to drum up support for Ukraine in the war. He will speak at the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, then travel to Washington for talks on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The area around the ammunition factory has been cordoned off since Sunday morning, with municipal waste trucks positioned at several roadblocks and a heavy presence of city, regional and state police, including troops on horseback.
As Zelenskyy’s large entourage made its way to the ammunition factory in the evening, a small contingent of supporters waving Ukrainian flags gathered nearby to show their appreciation for the visit.
“It’s unfortunate that we need a plant like this, but it’s here, and it’s here to protect the world,” said Vera Kowal Krewson, a first-generation Ukrainian American who was among those who greeted Zelenskyy’s motorcade. manner.”
He said many of his friends’ parents had worked at the munitions factory, and he called Zelenskyy’s visit “a wonderful one.”
Laryssa Salak, 60, whose parents also immigrated from Ukraine, also said she was glad Zelenskyy came to thank the workers. He said he was troubled that Ukraine’s defense funding had divided Americans and that even some of his colleagues opposed the support, saying the money should be helping America.
“But they don’t know that the money doesn’t go directly to Ukraine,” Salak said. people who don’t know that.”
The 155 mm shells made at the Scranton factory are used in the howitzer system, which is towed by a large gun with a long barrel that can fire at various angles. Howitzers can hit targets up to 15 miles to 20 miles (24 kilometers to 32 kilometers) away and are highly valued by ground forces for taking out enemy targets from a protected distance.
With the war now entering its third year, Zelenskyy has pressed the US for permission to use longer-range missile systems to fire inside Russia.
So far they have not persuaded the Pentagon or the White House to loosen the ban. The Department of Defense has confirmed that Ukraine has been able to attack Moscow with Ukrainian-made drones, and there are doubts about the strategic implications of a US-made missile that could strike the Russian capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will go to “war” with the United States and its NATO allies if it allows Ukraine to use long-range weapons.
At one point in the war, Ukraine was firing between 6,000 and 8,000 of its 155 mm shells per day. These levels are beginning to deplete US stockpiles and draw attention to the fact that the levels on hand are insufficient to meet the needs of the US military should another conventional war break out, such as in a potential conflict in Taiwan.
In response, the US has invested in restarting the production line and now manufactures more than 40,000 155 mm rounds a month, with plans to hit 100,000 rounds a month.
Two of the Pentagon’s leaders who have been pushed to increase production through – Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top arms buyer – were expected to join Zelenskyy in the plant. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, also joined the Ukrainian president.
The 155 mm rounds are just one of the advanced munitions, missiles, air defenses and weapons systems the US has provided Ukraine with – everything from small arms bullets to advanced F-16 fighter jets. The US has been the largest donor to Ukraine, providing more than $56 billion of the more than $106 billion NATO and partner nations have raised to help with its defense.
Although Ukraine is not a NATO member, its commitment to its defense is seen by many European countries as necessary to protect Putin from further military aggression that could threaten neighboring NATO member states and lead to greater conflict.
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Copp reported from Washington.
