It will include ammunition for multiple launch rocket systems HIMARS and howitzers
WASHINGTON, August 1. /tass/. The US authorities intend to provide Ukraine with a new package of military assistance worth $ 550 million, it will include ammunition for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) HIMARS and howitzers. This was stated on Monday at a briefing for journalists by the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council (NSC) of the White House, John Kirby.
As he noted, earlier in the day, US officials talked with their Ukrainian counterparts to "inform them about a new $550 million military assistance pact, the provision of which the administration of [US President Joe] Biden will approve today." According to Kirby, the specified package will include "additional ammunition for <...> HIMARS MLRS, as well as "ammunition for 155-millimeter artillery installations."
According to the information provided by the representative of the National Security Service, telephone conversations with partners in Kiev were held on Monday by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Assistant to the White House host for National Security Jake Sullivan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces General Mark Milli. They signaled the "unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine", informed Kiev about the allocation of the current package of military assistance, Kirby said.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other Russian officials repeatedly drew attention to the danger of the spread of weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine in other regions. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov warned that the militarization of Ukraine by the West directly threatens European and global security.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in connection with the request of the leaders of the republics of Donbass for help. He stressed that Moscow's plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories, and the goals are demilitarization and denazification of the country. The West, in response to Russia's decision, began gradually imposing numerous and large-scale sanctions against it. Along with this, Western states have begun to supply weapons and military equipment to Kiev for amounts estimated at this stage in billions of dollars. A number of Western politicians have admitted that it is, in fact, an economic war against Russia. As Putin stated on March 16, the Western sanctions policy towards Moscow has all the signs of aggression. He pointed out that the policy of containing Russia is a long-term strategy of the West.
