The US will provide Ukraine with a new package of military aid as part of defense support, amounting to $225 million. It will include, among other things, ammunition for HIMARS and artillery shells, according to the Associated Press.
Officials from the US told journalists on Thursday, on condition of anonymity, about Washington's plans, as the aid, which has not yet been publicly announced, is being discussed.
It is noted that the weapons from the new American package will be able to be used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike threats inside Russia to protect the city of Kharkiv from a powerful Russian attack.
According to American officials, the aid includes:
- ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS),
- mortar systems,
- a range of artillery shells.
The AP agency notes that according to the new US directive, Ukraine may use such weapons to strike the territory of the aggressor country Russia if forces there are attacking or preparing to attack.
However, such lifting of the taboo by Washington for Kyiv does not apply to the use of ATACMS provided by the US, or long-range missiles and other ammunition for conducting offensive strikes inside Russia, according to American officials.
It is also noted that the new aid package comes at a time when US President Joe Biden, in his speech in Normandy (France) on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, promised that the US would not waiver in its defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
It is expected that on June 7, Biden will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Paris.