The US on Wednesday announced a new massive $1.85 billion weapons package for Ukraine that includes a Patriot air defense system for the first time, marking an escalation of US military aid for Kyiv.
The Patriots will be the most advanced air defense system the US is providing Ukraine and will require six months of training for Ukrainian forces, which will likely take place in Germany. Russia has warned strongly against providing such systems, saying the Patriots will be a legitimate target for the Russian military, but the Biden administration doesn’t seem concerned about potential escalations.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that additional US weapons for Ukraine will lead “to an aggravation of the conflict and, in fact, does not bode well for Ukraine.”
The announcement of the package coincides with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting Washington. The aid includes $1 billion in arms that will be sent from US military stockpiles and $850 million in assistance in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows the US to purchase weapons for Kyiv.
The Pentagon said that the new massive weapons package brings the total weapons pledged to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February to over $21 billion. According to a list released by the Pentagon, the weapons being sent from US military stockpiles, known as the presidential drawdown authority, include:
- One Patriot air defense battery and munitions
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
- 10 120mm mortar systems and 10,000 120mm mortar rounds
- 10 82mm mortar systems
- 10 60mm mortar systems
- 37 Cougar Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles
- 120 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs)
- Six armored utility trucks
- High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs)
- Precision aerial munitions
- Over 2,700 grenade launchers and small arms
- Claymore anti-personnel munitions
- Demolition munitions and equipment
- Night vision devices and optics
- Tactical secure communications systems
- Body armor and other field equipment
The arms being provided through the USAI include:
- 45,000 152mm artillery rounds
- 20,000 122mm artillery rounds
- 50,000 122mm GRAD rockets
- 100,000 rounds of 125mm tank ammunition
- SATCOM terminals and services
- Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment
If the US and allies aren’t careful, they are going to be in the thick of it with Russia and it concerns me, very much. This is a very tricky tightrope they are walking. WWIII has a nasty ring to it… It further concerns me that I don’t see any high level talks going on. Forgive me for sounding repetitive.
Donna, remember that timeline I told you about?
A normal healthy fun way of life for US citizens becomes less and less important in the big picture of big people.
To Patriots About Patriots. Andrei Martyanov.
Disgusting terrorist state arming the world.