It is the largest military aid package since the war began. The United States will send one billion dollars (about 962 million euros) in weapons to Ukraine. The news was transmitted, this Wednesday, by Joe Biden to Volodymyr Zelensky through a phone call that lasted 41 minutes.
Missiles and ammunition are part of the arsenal of weapons that will arrive in kyiv. But that is not all. The US president also announced, according to Reuters, the sending of another 225 million dollars for humanitarian aid, including medical assistance, food, supply of drinking water or money for families to buy basic necessities.
“The courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world. And the United States, along with our allies and partners, will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people in their fight for their freedom.”
After the announcement made by Joe Biden, the US Secretary of Defense, detailed the artillery that is part of the new military aid package. Via a Twitter postLloyd Austin announced the list of weapons to be shipped:
18 howitzers [obuses, um tipo de boca de fogo de artilharia] 155mm
36,000 rounds of ammunition for these 18 howitzers.
An unspecified number of longer range missiles M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System also known as HIMARS and that have a range of up to 80 kilometers.
Himars, the longest-range missiles that the United States will send to Ukraine
Four tactical vehicles to recover equipment.
Thousands of secure radios and night vision devices.
Financing for trainingmaintenance, transportation and administrative costs of weapons.
For the first time, Harpoon anti-ship missile systems — that are mounted on vehicles, according to Bloomberg, and that until now had only been sent by Denmark to help Ukraine defend its coasts.
We just announced our largest Ukraine ????????? assistance package to date: $1 billion worth of harpoons, 155mm howitzers, HiMARS security ammunition, tactical vehicles, secure radios and other equipment that will directly help Ukraine on the battlefield. pic.twitter.com/EmvE002qx9
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 15, 2022
With Ukrainian forces facing heavy battles in the eastern Donbass region, the United States has been sending weapons to help Ukrainian forces take up positions from which Russian forces launch their artillery, Defense News notes.
Ukraine has been pressuring the US and other Western nations for quick arms deliveries, but it is known that most of Zelensky’s orders have not yet reached kyiv.
Tanks, howitzers and drones. Zelensky’s list of requests from allies is long, and much of it will go unfulfilled.
Last May, the Biden administration announced a plan to equip Ukraine with longer-range missile systems after receiving assurances from kyiv that it would not use them to attack targets inside Russian territory. Now, in reaction to the new aid package, Zelensky said he was “grateful.”
Even if Russia has fewer and fewer modern missiles with each passing day, Ukraine’s need for such systems remains,” the Ukrainian president warned, according to Defense News.
“Every day I fight for Ukraine to get the necessary weapons and equipment,” he said, noting the “courage, wisdom and tactical skill” that cannot be imported and that the Ukrainian “heroes” “have”.
Source: Observadora
