The White House has approved a new package of up to 600 million dollars representing military assistance for Ukraine, according to a statement released on Thursday.
This assistance consists of equipment and services, but also training. The package includes HIMARS artillery rocket systems, night goggles, Claymore mines, 105mm artillery rounds, 155mm precision-guided artillery rounds, and training, according to the US executive.
“Together with our Allies and partners, we are delivering the arms and equipment that Ukraine’s forces are utilizing so effectively as they continue their successful counter-offensive against Russia’s invasion. President Biden has been clear we will support the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing our twenty-first drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since September 2021. This $600 million drawdown includes additional arms, munitions, and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories. This drawdown will bring the total U.S. military assistance for Ukraine to approximately $15.8 billion since the beginning of this Administration.
With admirable grit and determination, the people of Ukraine are defending their homeland and fighting for their future. The United States is providing Ukraine military assistance alongside our Allies and partners from more than 50 countries to support its defense. The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table when the time is right,” reads a press release by the U.S. Department of State.
Berlin will deliver weapons, armor and a Mars-II MLS, but not tanks though
On the other hand, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Thursday that the German government will too deliver armored vehicles to Kiev, but not the tanks that Ukraine has requested, AFP reports.
Germany does not intend to deliver Leopard-2 main battle tanks at this stage, although Ukraine has insisted on this. Berlin continues to rely on a system of circular deliveries: Greece will receive German Marder tanks, also requested by Kyiv, and Athens will “very soon” deliver older tanks in exchange to Ukraine, according to Lambrecht. “It is important for me to state that these deliveries will not weaken the Bundeswehr (German army),” the minister said.