Russ-Ukraine War: US announces new military package worth $3 billion for Ukraine

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Washington: The United States on Wednesday announced nearly USD three billion in military aid to Ukraine. It is reportedly the biggest US military package for the war-torn country. The military was announced to mark Ukraine’s independence day, six months after Moscow invaded Kyiv. The package aims to strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces over the next two years.

With this package, the US reiterated its commitment to delivering advanced surface-to-air missiles, artillery ammunition, laser-guided rockets and advanced drones to Ukraine. US President Jo Biden also congratulated Ukraine on its independence day. “The United States is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they continue the fight to defend their sovereignty,” Biden said as quoted by AFP.

The US president also called his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to congratulate him and inform him of US security assistance. “The United States has now committed more than $13.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration,” reported AFP quoting US Defense Under Secretary Colin Kahl, as saying.

The latest tranche of military aid includes National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and their munitions, 310,000 artillery rounds and up to 24 counter-artillery radars. Puma surveillance drones and a new system dubbed Vampire that uses small missiles to shoot down enemy drones are also part of the USD three billion military aid. The new package was unveiled just five days after Washington announced a USD775 million package of arms.

The US president also hailed the resistance put up by Ukrainian forces against Russian aggression. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 this year.