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 programs in addition to munitions for different air protection programs, together with Stingers, Avengers and Intention-7 programs, the Pentagon mentioned in a press release, as Kyiv gears up for its long-anticipated offensive to attempt to push Russian forces again and defend towards aerial assaults from Moscow.
The help additionally consists of different artillery help, anti-armor weaponry and tens of tens of millions of rounds of small-arms ammunition, protection officers mentioned.
Moscow got here beneath a drone assault on Tuesday, a transfer which the Kremlin has blamed on Kyiv. A senior Ukrainian official mentioned Kyiv was not “instantly concerned” within the assault, although it was “blissful” to look at.
Thus far 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 exhibits how critical the Biden administration is about arming Ukraine upfront of the counteroffensive, a Pentagon official mentioned on Wednesday. The air protection munitions within the cargo additionally recommend that the USA is searching for to offer Ukraine a bonus amid persevering with strikes from Moscow.
The Pentagon didn’t specify which unmanned programs had been being bolstered with the drone munitions within the assist package deal. America has given Ukraine each surveillance and assault drones up to now 12 months, however officers have been reluctant to publicly describe precisely which programs 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 mentioned.
“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 mentioned, 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 demanding infrastructure amid Russia’s persevering with airstrikes killing civilians throughout Ukraine.”
John F. Kirby, a White Home spokesman, mentioned Wednesday that the administration would sustain the weapons shipments via 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 mentioned that “we’ve obtained a while to determine that out.”
Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.
