US increases military assistance to Ukraine
Days after stating it would spend the exact same amount to fund tanks with Kiev-directed funding, the United States is sending a new $400 million military aid package to Ukraine.
“Additional Ukraine security assistance worth up to $400M with a combination of vital battlefield capabilities to help Ukraine protect their territory,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declared on Thursday.
He said, “We stand united in our steadfast support of Ukraine’s self-defense together with our int’l Allies & partners.
The new round of military aid was also disclosed by Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary. She said that the funds will be used to buy Ukraine surface-to-air missiles and air defence systems.
Singh claimed that in light of Russia’s continued aerial attacks, the enhanced air defence capabilities were “vital.” Since February, Moscow has been waging war on the former Soviet republic to protect its Russian-speaking populace from Kiev’s repression. Four short-range, highly mobile Avenger missile systems are being delivered for the first time to Ukraine in this package, together with the Stinger missiles they shoot.
The package also includes more than 20 million rounds of ammunition for small weapons as well as artillery and mortar rounds, ammunition for HIMARS precision rocket launchers, and missiles for the HAWK air defence systems that Spain has promised to supply.
US increases military assistance to Ukraine
The deal takes the total amount of US security aid provided to Ukraine since the start of the Russian campaign to more than $18.6 billion.
The Pentagon had only just on Saturday revealed it would pay for the T-72 tanks to be deployed to Ukraine as part of a similar $400 million military aid deal that included included drones and armoured vehicles.
