The United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced this Friday new long-term military aid to Ukraine worth 2.1 billion dollars (about 1.95 billion euros at current exchange rates).
The new assistance package will include funds for more munitions for Patriot missiles, Hawk air defense systems and missiles, and small Puma ‘drones’ (unmanned aerial devices) that can be launched manually.
The latest injection of funds, one of the largest packages ever provided by the United States of America (USA), comes as there are signs that Ukraine is starting or about to start the much-heralded counter-offensive to try to recapture territory occupied by Russian forces.
Unlike equipment, weapons and ammunition that are more frequently shipped from Pentagon stockpiles and delivered quickly to Kiev, this new amount will be provided through the Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative and is expected to be spend in the coming months or even years to ensure the future security of Ukraine. needs.
In a statement, the Pentagon said the package shows the United States’ continued commitment “to both Ukraine’s critical near-term capabilities and the enduring ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter long-term Russian aggression.” term”.
The aid will also include ammunition for laser-guided rockets, an undisclosed number of artillery shells, and funds for training and maintenance support.
Several government officials acknowledged that fighting in Ukraine had intensified in recent days, but earlier this week much attention was focused on the collapse of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River (in southern Ukraine).
The White House (US presidency) and the Pentagon insisted this Thursday that they continue working to try to determine who caused the partial destruction of the dam, which triggered serious flooding and an emergency situation in the region, with thousands of people evacuated. displaced.
While the US is ready to provide billions of dollars in military weapons and other aid, the Joe Biden administration has made it clear that there will be no US fighting forces on Ukrainian soil.
In that regard, Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, said Thursday that the military had no plans to provide transportation or other direct support in areas damaged by the dam collapse.
The Biden government has provided more than $37.6 billion (35 billion euros) in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: TSF
