Washington, Dec 12 (EFE).- The United States announced on Thursday a new military aid package worth $500 million for Ukraine, which includes drones and ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
This additional aid, provided within the framework of a reduction in the stocks of the Department of Defense, also includes 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, javelin, and AT-4 anti-armor systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, demolition and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection equipment, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, and light tactical vehicles, among others.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that this shipment is part of the promise to accelerate the delivery of weapons that President Joe Biden made in the White House to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September.
That meeting took place with the aim of coordinating a plan to expedite the delivery before the end of his term on Jan. 20.
According to Blinken, Ukraine “urgently” needs the equipment as it defends itself against “ongoing” attacks from Russia.
The head of US diplomacy is traveling from Wednesday to Friday to Aqaba (Jordan) and Ankara (Turkey) to meet with leaders and analyze the situation in the Middle East, more specifically in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon.
“The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression,” he concluded in a statement. EFE
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