WASHINGTON, US
The United States on Monday
announced $200 million in new ammunition, air defenses and anti-mine clearing
equipment to Ukraine, after an accounting error allowed new funding.
An airman from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron drives a forklift to move 155-millimeter shells ultimately bound for Ukraine at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware on April 29, 2022. AP FILE PHOTO
The Pentagon in June revealed
that it had another $6.2 billion to disperse to Ukraine than it previously
thought after a mistake in how it calculated prices for some weapons.
In the first of an expected
series of packages with the restored funds, the United States will send
munitions for Patriot air defense systems, 12 million rounds of small arms
ammunition and grenades, and ammunition for Himars, the multiple-rocket
launchers that have proven critical on the ground, according to the State
Department.
"Russia started this war
and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and
stopping its brutal attacks," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a
statement announcing the latest aid.
"Until it does, the
United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for
as long as it takes," he said.
President Joe Biden's
administration has sent $43 billion in security assistance since Russia invaded
Ukraine last year, and last week asked Congress to approve $13 billion more.
While most mainstream US
lawmakers of both parties support assistance to Ukraine, recent polls have
shown softening US support for military assistance.
Former president Donald Trump,
the frontrunner for the Republicans' 2024 nomination, has criticized assistance
to Ukraine, saying that he expects Russia to triumph and that European allies
should do more. - AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment