US to send $2.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine – DW – 07/02/2024

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday at the start of a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustam Umerov that the United States will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth $2.3 billion that will include support for key air defense points and anti-tank weapons. (07/02/2024).

The announcement comes as weakened Ukrainian forces are weakened and struggling to halt the advance of the invading Russian troops, who Moscow says are seizing new towns in eastern Ukraine.

The new package will “provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions” that will come directly from US military depots and be delivered on an “accelerated schedule,” Austin said. “It will also allow the United States to acquire more Patriot air defense interceptors and Nasams that will be delivered on an accelerated timeline,” he added.

The United States will work for Ukraine’s entry into NATO

Additionally, Austin said the United States would take “steps to build a bridge to Ukraine’s membership in NATO” ahead of the military alliance’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington next week. In that sense, he highlighted that the United States and Ukraine recently signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement.

For his part, Umerov thanked Washington for its help. “With that support we will deter Russia and prevent aggression,” he said.

The United States is a major military backer of Ukraine, having already pledged more than $51 billion in aid including weapons, munitions and other equipment since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in late February 2022.

RR (AFP/Reuters)