US plans to supply Ukraine with $275 mln in weapons before Trump's inauguration – AP
Photo: US Department
The US Department of Defense plans to send Ukraine at least $275 million in weapons before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The AP reports this.
As the publication noted, "the administration of current US President Joe Biden is rushing to do everything possible" to help Kyiv repel the Russian army before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
"The latest tranche of weapons comes as worries grow about an escalation in the conflict, with both sides pushing to gain any advantage that they can exploit if Trump demands a quick end to the war — as he has vowed to do," the journalists state.
The weapons in the new aid package to Ukraine will include:
- air defenses, specifically highly mobile artillery rocket systems (HIMARS),
- 155mm and 105mm artillery shells,
- Javelin anti-tank munitions, other equipment,
- and spare parts.
Asked if the department could do it by January 20, when Trump takes office, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said officials were working to ensure Ukraine got what it needed.
"We are committed to using all the authority that Congress has given us. The only way to do that is to ensure that our shelves are fully stocked and equipped. So as our shelves continue to fill with the equipment and capabilities we need, we are taking them and sending them to Ukraine," she said.
For reference:
US support, including the supply of weapons, ammunition, and other equipment, is crucial in countering Russian aggression. A reduction in this assistance could significantly affect Ukraine's ability to continue active defense and effectively defend its territories.
In early November, the United States announced the allocation of a $425 million military aid package for Ukraine. The army will receive missiles, ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons.
Moreover, on November 17, Western media reported that the Biden administration of the US President permitted Ukraine to use the provided American weapons to strike Russian territory. Following the US, similar permissions were granted by France and the United Kingdom.
In turn, President Zelensky stated that Ukraine could find itself in a critical situation in the event of a reduction in US military aid. The available resources of Ukrainian production are currently insufficient to counter Russian aggression successfully.
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