The United States of America allocates a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth 200 million dollars. It differs from the previous ones not so much in the amount as in the source of funds. This was stated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, reports CNN.
"Today we are announcing another package of aid in the field of security, designed to help Ukraine protect its territory and its people," he said.
According to Blinken, the package, worth $200 million, includes:
- ammunition for air defense,
- artillery shells,
- anti-tank means,
- additional equipment for demining.
"Russia started this war and can end it at any moment by withdrawing its troops from Ukraine and ending its brutal attacks. Until she does, the United States, our allies and partners will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.", Blinken emphasized.
In particular, the new military aid package will include:
- additional ammunition for Patriot air defense systems;
- additional ammunition for highly mobile artillery rocket systems (HIMARS);
- demining equipment and systems;
- 155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells;
- 120-mm tank ammunition;
- missiles with optical tracking and wire guidance (TOW);
- Javelin and other anti-tank systems and missiles;
- 37 tactical vehicles for towing and transporting equipment;
- 58 water trailers;
- more than 12 million small arms ammunition and grenades;
- ammunition for demining and destruction of obstacles; and
- spare parts, maintenance and other field equipment.
It should be noted that this package is provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority program, when weapons are transferred from the warehouses of the US Army.
Despite the relatively small amount of aid, the current tranche is primarily distinguished by the source of funds that were released due to an accounting error.
The error in calculating the cost of assistance under the PDA program is estimated at $6,2 billion in total for fiscal years 2022 and partially for 2023. The reason was that armaments for Ukraine were evaluated based on the cost of replacement, and not the actual cost of the equipment and weapons provided.
It is noteworthy that the 2023 fiscal year in the US ends on September 30, and at such a rate of $200 million, in order to transfer the entire balance by the end of the fiscal year, such packages must be announced several times a week. But it is obvious that this money will be transferred to the next fiscal year.
It will be recalled that it was previously reported that US President Joe Biden will send the Senate a request for additional aid to Ukraine in August.
The previous $400 million package included a variety of weaponry from Black Hornet mini-reconnaissance drones to armored personnel carriers and missiles for HIMARS and Patriot.
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