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Pentagon to deliver $675 million in military equipment to Ukraine in sign of long-term U.S. support

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The U.S. will instantly ship $675 million in contemporary navy gear to Ukraine as its conflict with Russia drags on, Biden administration officers mentioned Thursday, whereas Pentagon leaders mentioned they’re additionally more and more centered on long-term navy help to Kyiv in a bid to assist completely bolster Ukraine’s armed forces.

The newest $675 million supply to Ukraine will embody ammunition for Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods, or HIMARS; 4 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds; high-speed anti-radiation missiles; greater than 5,000 anti-armor techniques; 50 armored medical remedy automobiles; and a bunch of different navy arms and gear, officers mentioned Thursday.

The Pentagon and State Division made the bulletins shortly after Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Workers Chairman Gen. Mark Milley met with Ukrainian protection leaders and different allied protection ministers at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It marked the second assembly of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, a Western coalition that goals to streamline navy help to Kyiv and bolster its means to combat off a bigger and better-armed Russian invading power.

The U.S. and its allies are centered on serving to Ukraine push Russian forces out of the disputed Donbas area, however Mr. Austin made clear Thursday that he’s now trying past that.

“Right this moment, this contact group must place itself to maintain Ukraine’s courageous defenders for the lengthy haul,” Mr. Austin mentioned after an introductory assembly with the group.

Along with the $675 million introduced Thursday, the administration is also opening up one other $1 billion in long-term navy financing to Ukraine, which can give Kyiv entry to American-made weapons and gear. One other $1.2 billion in navy financing will likely be made accessible to 18 U.S. allies within the area, together with NATO members on the best potential danger of assault from Russia, officers mentioned.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced the package deal after a shock journey to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday in Kyiv.

“President Biden has been clear [that] we are going to assist the individuals of Ukraine for so long as it takes,” Mr. Blinken mentioned in a press release after the assembly. “I reiterated this message to President Zelenskyy and his workforce right now in Kyiv, which stays — and can stay — the capital of a sovereign, impartial Ukraine.”

Since 2014, when Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, the U.S. has given greater than $17 billion in direct navy help to Ukraine. Greater than $14 billion of that has come since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, now in its sixth month.



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