World
Weapons: Putin says some Western weapons for Ukraine are ending up in the Taliban’s hands

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned on Friday that some Western weapons equipped to Ukraine have been discovering their option to the Center East by the unlawful arms market and being offered to the Taliban.
“Now they are saying: weapons are stepping into the Center East from Ukraine. Nicely in fact they’re as a result of they’re being offered,” Putin mentioned. “And they’re being offered to the Taliban and from there they go onto wherever.”
Since Russia despatched troops into Ukraine on Feb.24 final 12 months, Western powers have despatched Ukraine tens of billions of {dollars} price of weapons in an try and defeat Russian troops.
Ukraine says it retains tight management over any weapons equipped to it, however some Western safety officers have raised considerations and america has requested Ukraine to do extra to deal with the broader subject of corruption.
In June 2022, the secretary common of Interpol, Jurgen Inventory, warned that a number of the weapons despatched to Ukraine might find yourself within the arms of organised crime teams.
A report concerning the Ukraine struggle and the unlawful arms commerce by the World Initiative In opposition to Transnational Organized Crime mentioned in March that there was “presently no substantial outflow of weapons from the Ukrainian battle zone.
“Nevertheless, each precedent means that, particularly if the menace is just not addressed proactively and imaginatively, when the present struggle ends, Ukraine’s battlefields might and can grow to be the brand new arsenal of anarchy, arming everybody from insurgents in Africa to gangsters within the streets of Europe,” the report mentioned.
The eight greatest Western donors to Ukraine led by america have made navy commitments to Ukraine totalling at the very least 84 billion euros ($90 billion), in response to the Kiel Institute for the World Financial system, which tracks donors.
US navy help consists of 160 155mm howitzers, 109 Bradley combating autos, greater than 111 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 38 excessive mobility artillery rocket methods.
“Now they are saying: weapons are stepping into the Center East from Ukraine. Nicely in fact they’re as a result of they’re being offered,” Putin mentioned. “And they’re being offered to the Taliban and from there they go onto wherever.”
Since Russia despatched troops into Ukraine on Feb.24 final 12 months, Western powers have despatched Ukraine tens of billions of {dollars} price of weapons in an try and defeat Russian troops.
Ukraine says it retains tight management over any weapons equipped to it, however some Western safety officers have raised considerations and america has requested Ukraine to do extra to deal with the broader subject of corruption.
In June 2022, the secretary common of Interpol, Jurgen Inventory, warned that a number of the weapons despatched to Ukraine might find yourself within the arms of organised crime teams.
A report concerning the Ukraine struggle and the unlawful arms commerce by the World Initiative In opposition to Transnational Organized Crime mentioned in March that there was “presently no substantial outflow of weapons from the Ukrainian battle zone.
“Nevertheless, each precedent means that, particularly if the menace is just not addressed proactively and imaginatively, when the present struggle ends, Ukraine’s battlefields might and can grow to be the brand new arsenal of anarchy, arming everybody from insurgents in Africa to gangsters within the streets of Europe,” the report mentioned.
The eight greatest Western donors to Ukraine led by america have made navy commitments to Ukraine totalling at the very least 84 billion euros ($90 billion), in response to the Kiel Institute for the World Financial system, which tracks donors.
US navy help consists of 160 155mm howitzers, 109 Bradley combating autos, greater than 111 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 38 excessive mobility artillery rocket methods.