WASHINGTON: The US on Thursday (Dec 13) introduced a brand new US$500 million package deal of navy help for Ukraine, as Washington races to bolster Kyiv earlier than President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace.
“The US is offering one other important package deal of urgently wanted weapons and tools to our Ukrainian companions as they defend towards Russia’s ongoing assaults,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a press release, with the help to be drawn from US navy stockpiles.
Trump’s November election victory has solid doubt on the way forward for American help for Ukraine, offering a restricted window for billions of {dollars} in already authorised help to be disbursed earlier than he’s sworn in subsequent month.
The Republican has stated his incoming administration will “probably” reduce aid to Ukraine, which Washington has been steadfastly backing since its invasion by Russia almost three years in the past.
The package deal introduced on Thursday consists of ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery ammunition, drones, armored automobiles, and tools to guard towards chemical, organic, radiological and nuclear assaults, together with different tools, the assertion stated.
It follows a US$988 million safety help package deal and a separate US$725 million package deal, each introduced earlier this month.