Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_Monitoring, Blinken said in a statement that Washington will provide Ukraine with Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, self-propelled Howitzers, armored personnel carriers, surface to air missiles, ammunition, and other items to support Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The package makes the largest use – $2.8 billion – of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) since Russia’s invasion last February, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
That authority allows the United States to transfer defense items like Humvees, trucks and munitions from stocks quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency.
The aid includes mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs), guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRS), surface-to-air missiles, anti-vehicle land mines and ammunition, Jean-Pierre said.
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, used for air defense, will also be sent to Ukraine. The missiles will be launched from Buk launchers, a Soviet-era weapons system that Ukraine is using.
Laura Cooper, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, told reporters at the Pentagon: “It is a creative solution that did require some engineering finesse” to have the Soviet launcher work with a missile produced by U.S. companies Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) and General Dynamics Corp (GD.N).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stressed the need for better air defenses to curb Russian missile strikes that have damaged the country’s energy infrastructure during winter.
In addition to the weapons, the aid included $225 million in Foreign Military Financing to help Ukraine build and modernize its military, Jean-Pierre said.
She said the package also included an additional $682 million for “regional partners and allies on NATO’s eastern flank” to encourage those that have sent weapons to Ukraine to supply more. The U.S. funds can be used to help them buy replacement equipment.
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