The United States has announced up to $300 million in security assistance to Ukraine, saying the decision underscores Washington's "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity "in support of its heroic efforts to repel Russia's war of choice".
"This afternoon, April 1, the Department of Defence (DoD) notified Congress of additional assistance activities under authority provided by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)," revealed Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby.
The US will provide a package to Ukraine which includes:
• Laser-guided rocket systems;
• Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles;
• Small-to-large caliber non standard ammunition;
• Night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, and optics;
• Tactical secure communications systems;
• Non-standard machine guns;
• Commercial satellite imagery services;
• Medical supplies, field equipment, and spare parts.
The United States has now committed more than $2.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including more than $1.6 billion in security assistance since February 24 when Moscow launched its military operation in the neighbouring country.
"Unlike Presidential Drawdown, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry rather than delivering equipment that is drawn down from DoD stocks. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide new capabilities to Ukraine's Armed Forces," said Kirby.
Meanwhile, the United States is continuing to utilize all available tools to support Ukraine's Armed Forces and is also planning to transfer Soviet-era tanks to bolster Ukrainian forces.
According to the New York Times, the decision comes in response to a request made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the country's troops know how to effectively use the Soviet-made tanks.
A US official, while speaking to the newspaper on condition of anonymity, said that the transfers would begin soon, but declined to say how many tanks would be sent, or from which countries they would come.
"They will allow Ukraine to conduct long-range artillery strikes on Russian targets in Donbas, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly," the report said.
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