The USA will provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment worth $250m as part of the last military aid package in 2023, State Department head Anthony Blinken has said.
The Pentagon said that these funds will be used to send Kyiv artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber, additional ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems, air defense system components, TOW missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems, as well as more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition, explosive ammunition, spare parts and medical equipment.
John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council, had previously warned that funds for aid to Kyiv would be exhausted after the package was granted. Therefore, the U.S. Congress needs to speed up the process of approving funding for aid to Ukraine, Kirby said.
“It is critical that Congress act quickly, as quickly as possible, to advance our national security interests in helping Ukraine protect itself and secure its future”, Blinken said, for his part.The head of the State Department also emphasized that the coalition of more than 50 countries will continue to provide “critical support to Ukraine’s forces”.
Meanwhile, Congress has been unable since October to agree on a $61.4bn aid package for Ukraine, which was proposed by the administration of President Joe Biden. This is being obstructed by representatives of the Republican Party, who are demanding increased funding for border protection against illegal migration. Senators are expected to return to discussing the issue after the Christmas and New Year vacations are over on January 8.
Ukraine earlier warned that the country would run out of funds to continue the war with Russia at the end of December if the US does not provide additional aid. In this case, the line of contact could change and Ukrainian forces would have to retreat with “insane losses”. The head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andrii Yermak, noted that in the current situation there is a “great risk” of Kyiv’s defeat in the war with Moscow.
