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It’s late Wednesday night in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday introduced a $700 million drawdown in arms and tools to Ukraine.
This drawdown, the eleventh, is a part of the $40 billion supplemental appropriations.
“US navy help will strengthen Ukraine’s place to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, safe victories on the battlefield, and finally strengthen Ukraine’s place on the negotiating desk,” Blinken stated in an announcement.
“The Kremlin has succeeded solely in devastating communities, brutalizing civilians, disrupting Ukraine’s agriculture, and threatening international meals safety by blocking Ukrainian ports. The desire of Ukraine’s brave forces to defend their nation is admirable, and Ukraine has proven it’s going to by no means be subjugated to Russia,” Blinken added.
Blinken ended his assertion by vowing that the US and its allies “will stand with Ukraine for so long as it takes.”
The newest package deal of safety help for Ukraine from the Biden administration consists of HIMARS, or Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Techniques, in addition to 1,000 extra Javelin missiles and launch pads for these missiles, in response to the Division of Protection states.
These weapons will give Ukraine “crucial capabilities to assist Ukrainians repel the Russians,” Protection Division Undersecretary for Coverage Colin Kahl stated at a briefing on the Pentagon Wednesday.
The Protection Division additionally introduced that Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Ukrainian Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on Tuesday “to debate Ukraine’s navy necessities.”
“Secretary Austin highlighted the success of the Ukraine Contact Group held on Might 23 and famous the unity of the worldwide group in supporting Ukraine because it repels the Russian invasion,” Kahl stated.
That is the primary presidential drawdown authority safety help package deal introduced by the Biden administration since Congress handed the $40 billion supplemental funding invoice for Ukraine assist in Might.
General, the US has now dedicated “roughly $5.3 billion {dollars} in safety help to Ukraine” for the reason that starting of the Biden administration and $4.6 billion for the reason that starting of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, Kahl added.