US preparing $2 bln plus-aid package with longer-range missiles for Ukraine – Reuters

Ukraine will soon receive more than $2 billion in military aid from the United States, which is expected to include longer-range missiles for the first time.

Reuters reports, citing US officials, that these can be projectiles with a range of up to 150 kilometers.

The publication reports that the aid will be announced later this week.

The new military aid package is expected to include additional support equipment for Patriot air defense systems, precision munitions, and Javelin anti-tank weapons.

One Reuters source said part of the $1.725 billion package would come from a fund known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). It allows President Joe Biden's administration to obtain weapons from industry rather than from existing US weapons stockpiles.

The officials said that the aid is expected to be announced as soon as this week.

USAI funds will be used to purchase a new winged weapon, the GLSDB bomb, with a range of 94 miles (up to 150 km).

The latter can allow Ukraine to hit important military targets of the invaders that were previously out of reach. Also, these munitions can help the Ukrainian Armed Forces to continue counterattacks while causing losses to russia in its rear.

"The longer range of the GLSDB glide bomb could allow Ukraine to hit targets that have been out of reach and help it continue pressing its counterattacks by disrupting russia further behind its lines," Reuters reports.

At the same time, the publication notes, the United States rejected Kyiv's requests for ATACMS missiles with a range of 185 miles (up to 297 km).

As Rubryka reported, the White House spokesperson stated that the United States might soon announce another military aid package to Ukraine.

Reference

As reported, the last package of US military aid to Ukraine was allocated on January 25. Within its limits, the Ukrainian side will, for the first time, receive 31 American M1 Abrams tanks and related equipment and machinery for their maintenance.

According to the mechanism of the Presidential Drawdown Authority, the USA transferred thirty packages of military aid to Ukraine. The largest volume of them amounted to more than three billion dollars.