With the brand new package deal, Washington’s total army help to Kiev has reached $43.9 billion, the Pentagon’s chief says
Washington will present one other $200 million value of army help to Kiev amid the battle with Russia, US Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin has introduced at a gathering of the so-called Ukraine Protection Contact Group.
“I’m proud that the US will announce its newest safety package deal for Ukraine valued at $200 million,” Austin mentioned throughout Wednesday’s assembly at NATO headquarters in Brussels, attended by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
In keeping with the Pentagon chief, the brand new package deal will embrace artillery and rocket ammunition, precision aerial munitions, anti-tank weapons, gear to deal with drones, and “AIM-9 munitions for the brand new air protection system that we’ll quickly ship to Ukraine.”
He didn’t clarify what air protection system it may be. AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile that has existed because the late Fifties.
Austin mentioned that with the brand new package deal, the general army help offered by Washington to Kiev because the begin of battle with Russia in February 2022 had reached some $43.9 billion.
Longer-term selections on American help for Ukraine are at present on maintain because the US Home stays and not using a speaker after the lawmakers voted out Kevin McCarthy, and lots of Republicans oppose offering additional help to Zelensky’s authorities.
“I stay up for listening to concerning the new help packages that many nations listed below are getting ready,” the Pentagon chief added.
On Tuesday, Germany introduced the so-called “winter package deal” of help for Kiev, amongst different issues, comprising air protection techniques, together with the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons, Leopard 1A5 primary battle tanks, and guarded transport autos.
After he arrived on the NATO headquarters, Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine was working arduous to organize to withstand Russia throughout the winter, however “now we’d like some help from the [NATO] leaders. That’s why I’m right here immediately.”
Russia has repeatedly warned that deliveries of weapons to Ukraine by the US and its allies will solely delay the preventing however gained’t forestall Moscow from reaching the objectives of its army operation. Russian officers additionally argue that offering arms, intelligence-sharing, and coaching Kiev’s troops already implies that Western nations have de facto change into events to the battle.
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