US weapons delivery to Ukraine to include spy drones
A recent arms package approved by the Pentagon to fight Russian forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine will include spy drones, mine-resistant vehicles, and howitzer artillery guns along with 36,000 rounds of rockets.
According to media reports on Friday the new US$775 million military aid package will include 15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds.
The package also includes more precision-guided missiles for the HIMARS systems that have permitted Ukrainian forces to strike Russian command centers and munitions depots far behind the front lines, and more anti-armor weapons including TOW missiles and Javelin systems, as well as High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) that hone in on ground-based radar systems that help Ukraine target Russian radar systems.
"We want to make sure that Ukraine has a steady stream of ammunition to meet its needs, and that's what we're doing with this package," a senior US defense official told reporters.
"These capabilities are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine's position at the negotiating table," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Friday.
In the statement, Blinken said the latest military package to Ukraine will include “additional arms, munitions, and equipment.”
“President [Joe] Biden has been clear that we will continue to support the people of Ukraine in defending their country from Russia’s aggression for as long as it takes,” said Blinken, adding that the aid brings the administration’s total security assistance to Ukraine to about $10.6 billion.
Russian officials have repeatedly warned against sending weapons to Ukraine, saying it is adding fuel to fire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the special military operation in Ukraine in late February, accusing Kiev of failing to implement the terms of a peace agreement for the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
In this regard, Russia said the objectives of the operation were to "de-Nazify" Ukraine and stop atrocities against the pro-Russia residents there.
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