The Biden administration on Wednesday introduced $300 million in army assist for Ukraine, the most recent package deal of weapons and different army gear that the USA has been sending to Kyiv for the reason that starting of Russia’s invasion.
The package deal consists of extra ammunition for drones and long-range artillery. It additionally consists of extra munitions for Patriot air protection techniques in addition to munitions for different air protection techniques, together with Stingers, Avengers and Intention-7 techniques, the Pentagon stated in an announcement, as Kyiv gears up for its long-anticipated offensive to attempt to push Russian forces again and defend in opposition to aerial assaults from Moscow.
The help additionally consists of different artillery help, anti-armor weaponry and tens of hundreds of thousands of rounds of small-arms ammunition, protection officers stated.
Moscow got here below a drone assault on Tuesday, a transfer which the Kremlin has blamed on Kyiv. A senior Ukrainian official stated Kyiv was not “straight concerned” within the assault, although it was “glad” to look at.
To date American officers say that no U.S.-made drones or munition have been utilized in assaults on Moscow. However the truth that the USA plans to ship extra ammunition for Ukrainian drones reveals how critical the Biden administration is about arming Ukraine upfront of the counteroffensive, a Pentagon official stated on Wednesday. The air protection munitions within the cargo additionally counsel that the USA is looking for to offer Ukraine a bonus amid persevering with strikes from Moscow.
The Pentagon didn’t specify which unmanned techniques had been being bolstered with the drone munitions within the assist package deal. The USA has given Ukraine each surveillance and assault drones previously 12 months, however officers have been reluctant to publicly describe precisely which techniques have been despatched.
The package deal brings the quantity of safety help to Ukraine from the USA since Russia invaded in February final 12 months to $37.6 billion, the Pentagon stated.
“This authorization is the Biden administration’s thirty ninth drawdown of kit from D.O.D. inventories for Ukraine since August 2021,” the Pentagon assertion stated, referring to the Protection Division’s provides. “It consists of key capabilities to help Ukraine’s air defenders as they bravely defend Ukraine’s troopers, civilians, and important infrastructure amid Russia’s persevering with airstrikes killing civilians throughout Ukraine.”
John F. Kirby, a White Home spokesman, stated Wednesday that the administration would sustain the weapons shipments by means of the remainder of the fiscal 12 months, which ends within the fall. “
As for when the administration would wish to go to Congress for more cash for Ukraine, Mr. Kirby stated that “we’ve received a while to determine that out.”
Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.