The United States is set to provide Ukraine with an additional $725 million in military aid, including counter-drone systems and munitions for its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). This suggests that longer-range missiles may soon be deployed to the frontlines.
Two anonymous US officials, speaking before the official announcement, refrained from confirming whether the package includes the highly sought-after ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System). However, Ukraine has been actively requesting these longer-range missiles to target more locations within Russia.
The aid package also contains additional anti-personnel land mines, which Ukraine hopes will help slow down Russian and North Korean ground forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
President Joe Biden has committed to utilising the entirety of the military funds Congress allocated for Ukraine earlier this year before the end of his presidency on 20 January. This includes around $7.1 billion in weapons drawn from Pentagon stockpiles, as of Monday’s announcement.
Amid speculation over the future of US support for Ukraine, particularly with the incoming Trump administration’s promise to end the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a significant statement on Friday. He suggested that offering NATO membership to the territory controlled by Kyiv could help bring an end to the “hot stage of the war.”
Frances Ibiefo
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