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US announces $2.5 bn in military aid to Ukraine

20.01.2023 08:45
The United States has said it will provide Ukraine with hundreds of armoured vehicles and other military equipment as part of a huge new USD 2.5 billion security assistance package.
The United States has said it will provide Ukraine with hundreds of armoured vehicles and other military equipment as part of a new USD 2.5 billion security assistance package.
The United States has said it will provide Ukraine with hundreds of armoured vehicles and other military equipment as part of a new USD 2.5 billion security assistance package.Shane A. Cuomo, U.S. Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The new tranche of military aid was announced by the Pentagon on Thursday night, the Reuters news agency reported.

The package includes “hundreds of armored vehicles, critical support for Ukraine’s air defense, and other important capabilities,” the US Defence Department said in a statement. 

Specifically, the US administration is sending 59 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers, 53 mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles and 350 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, according to Reuters. 

The package also includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), eight Avenger air-defence systems, tens of thousands of artillery rounds and approximately 2,000 anti-armor rockets, the Pentagon said.

The United States has now committed more than USD 27.4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February last year, the Reuters news agency reported.

Nine NATO allies pledge new military assistance to Ukraine

Earlier on Thursday, a group of defence and military leaders from NATO countries held a video conference, pledging a raft of new military aid for Ukraine. 

The assistance from countries including Poland, Britain, Estonia and Latvia will include tens of Stinger air defence systems, S-60 anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and training, according to a joint statement.

Ukraine expects ‘powerful decisions’ from allies on military aid on Friday

Defence leaders from about 50 countries and NATO will gather at Germany's Ramstein Air Base on Friday for a crunch meeting on weapons to Ukraine, officials said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv expects strong decisions from the gathering.

In a video address to the nation on Thursday night, Zelensky said: “We are preparing for tomorrow's Ramstein - we expect powerful decisions.”

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has said his country will renew its offer to donate a company of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of a wider coalition.  

Ukraine is pushing for more assistance to repel Moscow's invasion, amid concerns that winter will give the Russian army time to regroup and launch a major new offensive, the Reuters news agency reported.   

Friday is day 331 of Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

(pm/gs)

Source: Reuters, ABC News, defense.gov, gov.ukpresident.gov.ua