After approving new funds for Kiev, the USA did not take long to promise Ukraine large-scale military aid again. But a new billion-dollar package has a small catch.
The US government has promised Ukraine a new billion-dollar aid package for the long-term supply of weapons. The US wants to provide Kiev with additional weapons and support worth six billion US dollars (5.6 billion euros) to defend against Russia’s war of aggression, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. This includes, among other things, artillery ammunition as well as drone defense and missiles for the Patriot air defense systems. The new package builds on aid for Ukraine approved by Congress earlier this week.
As part of the US financing program, contracts are to be awarded to American defense companies to build new equipment for Ukraine. This means it could take several months to years for the weapons to be delivered. Austin said deliveries depend on the pace of the industry. This will vary depending on the weapon system. At the same time, the government will do everything to speed it up – and the Ukrainian leadership is confident that it can hold out long enough. With the new opportunities, Ukraine will then be stronger. “We really want Ukraine to succeed.”
Austin spoke at the conclusion of a virtual meeting of the U.S.-led contact group on support for Ukraine. “We will not falter,” emphasized the defense minister, referring to US support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia more than two years ago. If Russian President Vladimir Putin wins, “the security consequences will be severe and global,” Austin said. Chief of the General Staff Charles Brown said that aggression that is not counteracted leads to more aggression – and referred, among other things, to the beginning of the Second World War.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously insisted on the delivery of longer-range missiles and anti-aircraft systems at the virtual meeting.
Republicans blocked further aid for months
After months of domestic political impasse, the US Congress approved new aid worth around $61 billion for Kiev at the beginning of the week – thereby clearing the way for new arms deliveries. New US aid commitments for Ukraine had almost come to a standstill for months due to disputes between Democrats and Republicans because the previously approved aid had been used up.
US President Joe Biden announced an immediate new $1 billion military package on Wednesday, immediately after signing the law passed by Congress. These were primarily anti-aircraft equipment, artillery, missile systems and armored vehicles from the US military’s inventory. This means that this equipment will be delivered quickly to Ukraine – some of it is stored at US bases in Europe. The USA is considered Ukraine’s most important supporter.
Spain announces delivery of Patriot missiles to Ukraine
Spain also announced that it would sell Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed a corresponding report from the Spanish newspaper “El País” at the virtual meeting. Robles said nothing about a possible delivery of launch pads themselves as well as radar and control units of the mobile Patriot system. With the announced delivery of the missiles, Spain is at least partially complying with requests from Ukraine and other Western partners such as Germany. Germany recently announced the delivery of a third Patriot system to Ukraine and called on other Western countries to take similar steps.
Source: Stern
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