The United States on Wednesday announced additional security assistance of about $1.3 billion for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the package including air defence capabilities, drones and munitions.
“This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) programme, which allow President Joe Biden’s administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from US weapons stocks.
The package includes four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions; 152 millimeter artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; and drones, according to the Pentagon.
The US Department of Defense announced the aid a day after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, allies assisting Ukraine as its forces press a counteroffensive against Russian troops occupying Ukrainian territory.
After 16 months of fighting, the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war remains difficult to predict due to the multitude of variables, writes Emad Moussa. Photo: Getty
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has oscillated between surprises and stalemates and pushed the boundaries of warfare, making for a highly fluid battlefield with an unpredictable outcome, writes Emad Moussa.
READ: Why is it so difficult to predict an endgame in Ukraine?
Delivery of the weapons and systems depends on their availability and production timeline.
The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches.
The planned package would be the eighth.
In the fiscal year that ended 30 September 2022, Washington put $6.3 billion worth of USAI funds to work buying for Ukraine’s defence.
The US move drew sharp criticism from rights groups. Photo Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The United States will provide Ukraine with cluster bombs to help with Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia.
READ: US to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, drawing criticism
Overall, the US has sent over $40 billion in the form of security and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
The package includes two different types of loitering munitions, the Phoenix Ghost drone made by AVEVEX, a private company in California, and the Switchblade, made by AeroVironment.
Earlier this month, the United States announced that it will send cluster munitions – prohibited by more than 100 countries – to Ukraine.
Human rights groups and some US allies, including Germany and Canada, oppose that decision.
(Reuters)
Source: The New Arab. 20 July 2023