New US$2.6B military aid package will help Ukraine change dynamic of war: official – National | 24CA News
The U.S. will ship Ukraine about $500 million in ammunition and gear and spend greater than $2 billion to purchase an array of munitions, radar and new weapons to assist Kyiv counter drones within the coming months, the Pentagon mentioned Tuesday, as Ukrainian troops gear up for a spring offensive in opposition to Russian forces.
The assist to be taken from navy stockpiles so it may be within the warfare zone rapidly contains “ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, air defense interceptors, and artillery rounds that Ukraine is using to defend itself,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned in a press release. HIMARS are a number of rocket launchers.
The package deal contains at the very least two new weapons programs which might be designed to counter drones — particularly the Iranian-made Shahed, which Tehran has supplied to Russia and has been closely utilized in assaults on Ukrainian cities.
The U.S., for the primary time, will ship 9 30mm gun vans and an undisclosed quantity of ammunition for them, and 10 cell laser-guided rocket programs, additionally developed to counter drones.
The big selection of ammunition being despatched from Pentagon shares contains 155 mm artillery rounds for howitzers as Ukraine burns by the rounds combating again in opposition to Russia’s floor invasion. The Pentagon doesn’t present the quantities of munitions most often.
The speedy help additionally contains anti-armor programs, small arms, heavy gear transport automobiles, 61 gasoline tankers and upkeep assist, the Pentagon mentioned in a press release.
A senior protection official mentioned the main focus is on serving to Ukraine change the dynamic on the bottom.
“The war is at an important stage,” mentioned the official, who briefed Pentagon reporters on situation of anonymity to supply navy particulars.
Right now, the official mentioned, the battle strains are comparatively static and neither aspect has gained a lot territory. The official mentioned the U.S. desires to assist Ukraine advance and maintain its positions within the anticipated counteroffensive.
“We very much appreciate everything that the United States has done specifically in the last month to help our army prepare itself for the counteroffensive,” mentioned Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, talking at NATO headquarters in Brussels earlier than a gathering with with Blinken. “The Biden administration has upheld its commitment to provide Ukraine with a lot of what we need and set an example to other allies.”
The $2.1 billion in longer-term assist, which is being supplied below the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will purchase missiles for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, in addition to radar, further satellite tv for pc terminals and gasoline tanker vans, anti-armor rockets and bridging programs. It additionally will fund further coaching for Ukraine’s forces.
The protection official mentioned weapons already purchased utilizing the safety help funding in earlier packages are starting to make their technique to the battlefield. That is vital as a result of in some instances — corresponding to with the 155 mm rounds — the Pentagon had been sending its personal shares, that are additionally wanted for American troop coaching, and there’s a finite provide. Now, the official mentioned, the deliveries of 155 rounds Ukraine is getting embody ammunition that was purchased various months in the past by the USAI program.
The new weapons and cash come as Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with long-range missiles and the hotly contested battle for the japanese metropolis of Bakhmut drags on. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed The Associated Press in an unique interview that except his nation wins that combat, Russia might start constructing worldwide assist for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises.
Zelenskyy mentioned if Moscow’s forces take Bakhmut, Russian President Vladimir Putin would “sell this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran.”
The newest U.S. package deal, with its mixture of short-term and long-term assist, includes all kinds of ammunition from Pentagon shares, 23 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 200,000 grenades, mortars, rockets and an array of precision guided munitions.
It brings the entire quantity of U.S. safety help to Ukraine to greater than $35.1 billion since Russia invaded in February 2022. Defense leaders testifying on Capitol Hill final week mentioned the U.S. is ready to assist Ukraine for so long as wanted.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has echoed that sentiment, saying the alliance’s international ministers assembly in Brussels have been discussing find out how to step up assist for Ukraine’s armed forces. “Our support is for the long haul,” he mentioned earlier than the assembly Tuesday.
The White House mentioned final week that it has new proof that Russia is trying once more to North Korea for weapons because it additionally prepares for a spring offensive. Russia would supply Pyongyang with wanted meals and different commodities in return.
U.S. officers are also involved that the president of Belarus has warned that Russian strategic nuclear weapons is perhaps deployed in his nation, together with a part of Moscow’s tactical nuclear arsenal.
Putin has mentioned he deliberate to position tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. Those weapons are comparatively short-range and low-yield. Strategic nuclear weapons, corresponding to missile-borne warheads, can be a better menace.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whereas speaking up the potential of nuclear weapons, has additionally known as for a cease-fire in Ukraine. He mentioned a truce will need to have no preconditions and all motion of troops and weapons should be halted.
Russia, nevertheless, has rejected a stop in combating, claiming that Ukraine has refused to enter talks below stress from its Western allies.
Lee reported from Brussels. Associated Press author Tara Copp contributed to this story from Washington.
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