US authorises another $469 million in military aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON – The United States is authorising another US$350 million (S$469 million) in military aid for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, as Kyiv builds up its arsenal for an anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces.

“This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided Himars (high mobility artillery rocket systems) and howitzers that Ukraine is using to defend itself, as well as ammunition for Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, high-speed anti-radiation missiles, anti-tank weapons, riverine boats, and other equipment,” Mr Blinken said in a statement.

The US has provided more than US$30 billion in weapons to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, which invaded its pro-Western neighbour on Feb 24, 2022.

The latest US assistance was announced days after Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley held a call with their Ukrainian counterparts and spoke of their “unwavering support” for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also joined the end of that call on Friday, the White House said.

Kyiv is seeking to gather sufficient supplies of arms from its Western backers, of which the US has been the most significant, to mount a counter-offensive and try to take back territory captured by the Russians in 2022.

“Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does, we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Mr Blinken said on Monday.

The announcement of the latest assistance package from Washington was made the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to promote Beijing’s role as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine.

Mr Xi was the first leader to meet Mr Putin since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader on Friday over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. REUTERS