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The Biden administration on Wednesday introduced $300 million in navy support for Ukraine, the most recent bundle of weapons and different navy tools that the USA has been sending to Kyiv because the starting of Russia’s invasion.
The bundle contains further ammunition for drones and long-range artillery. It additionally contains further munitions for Patriot air protection methods in addition to munitions for different air protection methods, together with Stingers, Avengers and Goal-7 methods, 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 contains different artillery help, anti-armor weaponry and tens of thousands and thousands of rounds of small-arms ammunition, protection officers stated.
Moscow got here beneath 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 “joyful” 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 further ammunition for Ukrainian drones exhibits how severe the Biden administration is about arming Ukraine prematurely of the counteroffensive, a Pentagon official stated on Wednesday. The air protection munitions within the cargo additionally counsel that the USA is searching for to offer Ukraine a bonus amid persevering with strikes from Moscow.
The Pentagon didn’t specify which unmanned methods have been being bolstered with the drone munitions within the support bundle. The US has given Ukraine each surveillance and assault drones up to now 12 months, however officers have been reluctant to publicly describe precisely which methods have been despatched.
The bundle 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 contains key capabilities to help Ukraine’s air defenders as they bravely shield Ukraine’s troopers, civilians, and demanding 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 via the remainder of the fiscal 12 months, which ends within the fall. “
As for when the administration would want to go to Congress for more cash for Ukraine, Mr. Kirby stated that “we’ve obtained a while to determine that out.”
Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.
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