US announces $553 million in security assistance for Ukraine
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The package includes four short-range, highly mobile Avenger air defence systems as well as the Stinger missiles they fire.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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WASHINGTON - The United States will provide air defence systems and surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine as part of a new US$400 million (S$553 million) security assistance package, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.
With “ Russia’s unrelenting and brutal air attacks
The package includes four short-range, highly mobile Avenger air defence systems – the first time they have been provided to Ukraine – as well as the Stinger missiles they fire.
Also in the package are missiles for HAWK air defence systems that Spain has agreed to provide, artillery and mortar rounds, ammunition for Himars precision rocket launchers, and more than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
The HAWK missiles will be refurbished with Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, which pay for procurement of equipment from the defence industry. Other items in the package will be taken from existing US inventories.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his US counterpart Joe Biden and the American people for the assistance.
“Together we’re building an air shield to protect (Ukrainian) civilians. We’re bringing victory over the aggressor closer!” Mr Zelensky posted on Twitter.
The package brings to more than US$18.6 billion the total US security assistance in Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February.
The security assistance announcement came a day after top US General Mark Milley said more than 100,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, with Kyiv’s forces likely suffering similar casualties.
Gen. Milley also said there is a chance for talks on ending the war, and that military victory may not be possible for either Russia or Ukraine.
Russia, meanwhile, announced on Thursday that its forces have begun retreating from Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson
“We’re seeing some indications of Russian forces withdrawing from Kherson city, but it’s too early to make a full assessment of...what that means,” Ms Singh said.
Mr Zelensky said Kyiv forces have recaptured more than 40 towns and villages in southern Ukraine.
“Today we have good news from the south,” the president in his daily address to the nation. “The number of Ukrainian flags returning to their rightful place as part of the ongoing defence operation is already dozens.”
Ukrainian troops have for weeks been capturing villages en route to Kherson city in the eponymous region, where Kremlin-installed leaders have been pulling out civilians in what Kyiv has called illegal deportations.
In his speech, Mr Zelensky, who has been facing pressure from Western capitals
“We have to go all the way on the battlefield and through diplomacy so that all over our land, along our entire internationally recognised border, our flags – Ukrainian flags – are installed,” Mr Zelensky said. AFP
