Why did Erdogan say that Ukraine's allies are supplying it with "junk" weapons?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement regarding the West sending "junk" weapons to Ukraine raised great astonishment and raised questions about the effectiveness and quality of the weapons that Kyiv obtained, especially with the beginning of the war, which witnessed the Russians' control of large areas before the recent counterattack on Kiev.

Erdogan, who has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also plays a mediating role to end the war between Moscow and its neighbor Kiev, said, "It is said that weapons are being sent (to Ukraine) ... they are sending scrap," in his comment on Western support for Kiev.

Despite receiving batches of Harpoon anti-ship systems, HIMARS, howitzers, and other qualitative weapons, Ukraine is constantly demanding more weapons and equipment from its allies, enabling it to confront the Russian attack that has been going on for nearly 7 months.

Double chance

While the declarations issued by a number of European countries to send used weapons and military equipment or parts to Ukraine were repeated, and some of them demanded the renewal of its arsenal and the sending of new weapons instead of the used and old weapons that were supplied to Kyiv.

And the military expert, Fayez Al-Asmar, believes - in his statement to Al-Jazeera Net - that the war in Ukraine constituted a double opportunity for two categories of countries, the first is the developed countries, led by the United States, to test their modern and advanced weapons on the battlefield, after they passed the stage of experimental tests, maneuvers and exercises.

Ukrainian soldiers stationed with their equipment on the front line in the area between Lugansk and Donetsk in the east (European)

As for the second category, it is some of the countries of Eastern Europe and neighboring Ukraine, which found in the neighbor’s open war a golden opportunity to consume their weapons and ammunition, and get rid of their arsenals that have been stacked in warehouses for years, some of which have been manufactured for decades, especially those obtained from the former Soviet Union.

Stock replenishment

Last June, Polish President Andrzej Duda called on European countries to provide his country with used weapons, to replenish their stocks after helping Ukraine.

According to his statements, Duda confirmed that he asked his allies to provide the country with used weapons and equipment, after Warsaw handed over its weapons to Kyiv.

The Russian and Ukrainian sides incurred large losses in equipment and weapons, according to the official (European) announcements.

He said, "We provide Ukraine with the largest military assistance we have provided to another country. We are the main country that transports heavy weapons. We are talking about hundreds of tanks, combat vehicles, artillery, as well as drones, mobile aircraft, defense systems, hundreds of thousands of ammunition, spare parts and other equipment."

That is why the Polish president stressed that his country needs a "rapid renewal", saying that the weapons he is requesting are not a requirement that they be new.

"We have delivered used equipment to Ukraine, and we are also ready to accept used weapons," he said.

Holocaust weapons

And Ukraine's allies resorted - especially with the beginning of the Russian attack - to supplying weapons to Kyiv from its neighboring countries, in order to save the time needed to transfer Western weapons and the approvals that governments may need to send them.

Al-Asmar points out that the battlefield in Ukraine is large and extends hundreds of kilometers, and it is considered a holocaust and consuming weapons for both sides, whether attackers or defenders.

Ukraine - since the battle is taking place on its soil - needs all equipment and weapons, whether old or modern, especially since Russia has targeted, over the past months, a significant number of Ukrainian weapons depots.

In mid-August, Ukraine received 4 military helicopters from Latvia, a member of the European Union and NATO, as part of Western aid provided to Kiev by its Western allies to repel the Russian attack.

Latvia announced that two of the Soviet military helicopters it delivered to Ukraine have been repainted (Anatolia)

And the Latvian Ministry of Defense announced - in a statement - that two of the four Mi-17 and two Mi-2 helicopters were delivered to Ukraine disassembled. Aircraft developed in the former Soviet Union have been repainted, as has one of the two Mi-17s refurbished.

Russian propaganda

In conjunction with the official announcements, Russia does not stop broadcasting its counter-propaganda about the course of the battles, as well as the weapons that the West supplies to Ukraine, its opponent in the war, and Russian reports indicate that NATO members are sending to Kyiv batches of old weapons as well as modern war equipment.

Two weeks ago, Russia Today quoted Russian media reports that the Ukrainian army had received American-made 15-mm howitzers and the M101, which began production 81 years ago, from Lithuania.

The reports added that the aforementioned cannons participated after World War II in Korea and Vietnam, and pointed out that Denmark received 72 cannons of this type 20 years ago, and delivered 18 of them to Ukraine.

On the other hand, Washington and Kiev's Western allies - led by Germany - announced that it would be equipped with modern self-propelled howitzers, which had a major role in the recent battles against the Russian forces.

Regarding his opinion in Erdogan's speech regarding the West supplying Ukraine with "junk" weapons, the military expert believes that the Turkish president's words may not be accurate in the literal sense of the word. A weapon in open warfare is useful, whether helicopters transporting soldiers, ambulances, or others, and even used vehicles and mechanisms have a role on the lines of fire.

He pointed out that it may also mean that the Western allies do not provide Kyiv with the weapons necessary to resolve the battle or to break and defeat the Russians, such as combat aircraft, long-range missile systems and tanks, because this matter means that these countries are actually participating in the war, which increases the possibility of a third world war. Which everyone avoids.