US announces whopping $2.5bn in new military aid for Ukraine amid raging war

The United States has announced a whopping new package of arms and munitions for Ukraine worth $2.5 billion, defying Moscow’s repeated warnings against supplying Kiev with heavy weaponry almost a year into the devastating war. 

The US has by far been the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine, despite Moscow's warnings that it would only prolong the protracted war. 

According to the Pentagon, the new military package will send Stryker armored personnel carriers for the first time to Ukraine and also provide “critical support" for the country's air defense amid the raging conflict.

“This package provides additional NASAMS munitions and Avenger air defense systems to help Ukraine counter a range of short and medium-range threats and bolster Ukraine’s layered air defense," said a Pentagon news release.

The package does not feature Western battle tanks requested by Ukraine, but includes 59 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers, 53 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, and 350 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, as well as large and small munitions.

The massive package, announced a day before the anti-Russia alliance meets in Germany to discuss more military aid to Ukraine, is the second-largest ever announced by Washington.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the package brings US military assistance for Ukraine to some $27.4 billion.

He emphasized that the United States "continues to rally the world to support Ukraine", rebuffing repeated warnings from Russia. 

Western allies pledge fresh weapons for Ukraine despite Russia’s warnings

Ukraine’s allies announce new military aid package despite Russia’s warnings of nuclear war.

Since the start of the Russian military campaign in Ukraine last February, the United States and its European allies have supplied hundreds of armored vehicles to Kiev as part of large military packages. 

The UK announced last weekend that it would send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, Denmark promised 19 French-made Caesar howitzers, Sweden its Archer artillery system, and Germany said last week it would provide the country Marder armored vehicles.

Finland announced on Friday a new donation of more than 400 million euros ($434 million) worth of military equipment for Ukraine, not including Leopard 2
heavy tanks which it said it could also send if there is an agreement with allies. 

The new donation would triple the total value of Finland's military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total so far to 590 million euros, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. 

Miika Pynnonen, special adviser to Finland's defense minister, said a decision on donating Leopard 2 tanks, of which Finland has some 200, would be taken separately, following discussions with allies at Ramstein air base in Germany.

Finland had earlier indicated it could send the German-made Leopard tanks if there were agreement among allies.

Donation of the newest aid package became possible with the help of neighboring Sweden, which agreed to help Finland quickly replace the donated equipment in case of a crisis.

The two historically neutral Nordic countries are simultaneously applying to join the NATO Western military alliance NATO.

Germany has been cautious about supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz facing mounting pressure within Europe to authorize exports of German-made Leopard tanks.

It follows a warning by Moscow against an "extremely dangerous" escalation if the West meets Ukraine's latest calls for longer-range missiles.

"Potentially, this is extremely dangerous, it will mean bringing the conflict to a whole new level, which, of course, will not bode well from the point of view of global and pan-European security,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. 

Ukraine war will escalate if West gives Kiev longer-range missiles: Russia

Russia has warned that if the West provides Ukraine with longer range missiles, the war will escalate.

Canada to provide Ukraine with more armored vehicles

On Thursday, the Ontario-based Roshel Inc — a Canadian company supplying battle-ready armored vehicles to Ukraine — was reported to have plans of delivering the 200 vehicles Ottawa promised to Kiev before summer.

Roman Shimonov, the firm's chief executive officer, said Canada had provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid, including over C$1 billion in military supplies, adding that Ottawa's order of 200 Senator armored personnel carriers for Ukraine is expected to be delivered by summer.

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand visited Kiev on Wednesday to meet Ukrainian officials and announced the new supply as part of Ottawa’s latest military assistance package.

Russia started what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine with the declared aim of "de-Nazifying" the country on February 24, 2022. 

Since then, the United States and Europe have imposed unprecedented economic sanctions on Moscow while giving Ukraine tens of billions of dollars worth of weaponry, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles and communications systems.

The Kremlin has time and again warned the Western military assistance to Kiev will only prolong the war.

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