(Washington) The United States announced on Friday a new tranche of military aid to Ukraine, including additional missiles for the air defense of Kyiv, for a total value of some 400 million dollars.
Updated yesterday at 4:13 p.m.
Given Russia’s “relentless and brutal airstrikes on Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure, additional air defense capabilities are paramount,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters in announcing the announcement. new help.
It includes four Avenger short-range anti-aircraft systems, mobile systems mounted on light armor and an unspecified number of Stinger missiles.
This new tranche of aid also includes missiles for the old-generation Hawk systems that Spain has pledged to hand over to Kyiv, as well as shells, missiles for Himars precision artillery systems and ammunition various.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Joe Biden and the American people for their assistance.
“Together we are building an air shield to protect (Ukrainian) civilians. We are getting closer to victory against the aggressor,” Mr. Zelensky tweeted.
This new tranche of aid brings to more than 18.6 billion dollars the military assistance of the United States to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24.
US Chief of Staff General Mark Milley on Wednesday estimated that more than 100,000 Russian servicemen had been killed or injured since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, adding that the casualties were likely to be of the same order. Ukrainian side.
The highest-ranking American also hoped for talks to end the war, as a military victory was not possible for either Russia or Ukraine, he said.
Russia has announced that it has ordered its troops to withdraw from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a blow to Moscow’s military campaign.
“We see some signs of withdrawal of Russian forces from Kherson, but it is too early to know exactly […] what it means,” the spokeswoman said.