The Biden administration on Wednesday introduced $300 million in navy help for Ukraine, the newest bundle of weapons and different navy tools that the United States has been sending to Kyiv for the reason that starting of Russia’s invasion.
The bundle consists of further ammunition for drones and long-range artillery. It additionally consists of further munitions for Patriot air protection techniques in addition to munitions for different air protection techniques, together with Stingers, Avengers and Aim-7 techniques, the Pentagon mentioned 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 thousands and thousands of rounds of small-arms ammunition, protection officers mentioned.
Moscow got here below a drone assault on Tuesday, a transfer which the Kremlin has blamed on Kyiv. A senior Ukrainian official mentioned Kyiv was not “directly involved” within the assault, although it was “happy” to watch.
So far American officers say that no U.S.-made drones or munition have been utilized in assaults on Moscow. But the truth that the United States plans to ship further ammunition for Ukrainian drones exhibits how severe 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 United States is in search of to give Ukraine a bonus amid persevering with strikes from Moscow.
The Pentagon didn’t specify which unmanned techniques have been being bolstered with the drone munitions within the help bundle. The United States has given Ukraine each surveillance and assault drones up to now 12 months, however officers have been reluctant to publicly describe precisely which techniques have been despatched.
The bundle brings the quantity of safety help to Ukraine from the United States since Russia invaded in February final 12 months to $37.6 billion, the Pentagon mentioned.
“This authorization is the Biden administration’s 39th drawdown of equipment from D.O.D. inventories for Ukraine since August 2021,” the Pentagon assertion mentioned, referring to the Defense Department’s provides. “It includes key capabilities to support Ukraine’s air defenders as they bravely protect Ukraine’s soldiers, civilians, and critical infrastructure amid Russia’s continuing airstrikes killing civilians across Ukraine.”
John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, mentioned Wednesday that the administration would sustain the weapons shipments by way of the remainder of the fiscal 12 months, which ends within the fall. “
As for when the administration would want to go to Congress for extra money for Ukraine, Mr. Kirby mentioned that “we’ve obtained a while to determine that out.”
Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.
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