Biden: The United States will allocate additional military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine for $ 1.2 billion
US President Joe Biden announced additional military assistance to Kiev in the amount of $ 1 billion. The package will include howitzers and shells, ammunition for jet systems and anti-ship missiles "Harpoon". Another $225 million will also be allocated for humanitarian aid. The Pentagon reported that since February 24, the United States has allocated $5.6 billion to Kiev for defense purposes.
American President Joe Biden confirmed in a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky that the United States will allocate additional military assistance to Ukraine "for another $1 billion."
"We are talking about additional artillery and coastal defense means, as well as ammunition for artillery and modern missile systems that Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas," Biden's statement quotes the White House.
Washington will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the residents of the country - an additional $ 225 million has been allocated for this purpose. The package included "drinking water, essential drugs and medicines, food, shelter and money for families so that they could buy basic necessities."
"The United States, together with our allies and partners, will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for their freedom," Biden said.
It includes 18 M114 howitzers of 155 mm caliber, 36 thousand 155 mm shells, 18 tactical vehicles for towing howitzers, additional ammunition for highly mobile artillery rocket systems, four tactical special vehicles.
In addition, coastal-based Harpoon missile systems, thousands of protected radio stations, thousands of night vision devices, thermal imagers and other optics will be purchased for Ukraine. This amount also includes funding for military training and maintenance of equipment.
According to the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, the American authorities understand what kind of weapons Ukraine needs, since Washington maintains constant communication with Kiev. He noted that sometimes the parties contact twice a week.
Austin expressed confidence that during an active conflict "there is never enough" weapons, so the American side not only tries to listen to the requests of the Ukrainian side, but also supplies more than necessary.
Earlier, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have so far received only 10% of the weapons that were requested from Western countries.
"Russia has much more capabilities in terms of armaments and the number of military personnel. No matter how much effort Ukraine makes, no matter how professional our army is, but without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war," she argued.
She also noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine use 5-6 thousand artillery shells daily, while the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, according to her estimate, are 10 times more.
Since Joe Biden came to power, the United States has allocated about $6.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Of these, about $ 5.6 billion - since February 24, when Russia's special operation began.
At the end of April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that NATO does not want the fighting in Ukraine to end with the help of diplomacy. He stressed that Western countries supply weapons to the Armed Forces in an endless stream. He believes that this is done because the United States and the European Union intend to "fight Russia to the last Ukrainian."
Angelina Milchenko
