For Ukraine, US announces new military aid

The U.S. for the first time on Friday said that it will give Ukraine ScanEagle surveillance drones, mine-resistant vehicles, anti-armor rounds and howitzer weapons to help Ukrainian forces regain territory and mount a counteroffensive against Russian invaders.  

Apart from this, a senior defence official told reporters that a new $775 million aid package includes 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, 15 Scan Eagles, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops to move forward in the south and east, where Russian forces have placed mines. 

Moreover, the official said that as the war drags the U.S. is looking to help arm and shape the Ukrainian force of the future. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that these capabilities are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted his appreciation for the package on Friday and said that to defeat the aggressor we have taken another important step. In Ukraine this latest aid comes across as Russia’s war and is about to reach the six-month mark.

Since the beginning of the Biden administration it brings the total US military aid to Ukraine to about $10.6 billion. The Pentagon has provided equipment from Defence Department stocks to Ukraine since August 2021 as it is the 19th time.  

In the past, this was the first time it will send 16 of the weapon systems, but the U.S. has provided howitzer ammunition. However, the aid package includes 1000 javelin missiles, 1500 anti-tank missiles and an undisclosed number of high-speed, anti-radiation or HARM missiles that typically target radar systems. 

Using various precision artillery systems to try and hold off Russian forces and take back territory Moscow has gained, the Ukrainian forces have been successful. On the other hand, the defence official briefed reporters on the new weapons aid on condition of anonymity under ground rules which were set by the Defence Department.

On capturing the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine Russia has concentrated, where for eight years pro-Moscow separatists have controlled some territory as self-proclaimed republics, for much of the last four months of the war. In the east Russian forces have made some incremental gains, but in other regions they have also been put on the defensive, as Ukraine ratchets up its attacks in Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. 

In 2014 the Russian-occupied territory was seized by Moscow. Last week Nine Russian warplanes were reportedly destroyed at an airbase in Crimea in strikes that highlighted the Ukrainians’ capacity to strike deep behind enemy lines. 

By the U.S. and NATO allies and threatening to pull America deeper into the war Russian leaders have warned that striking facilities in Crimea marks an escalation in the conflict. The war is at a “near operational standstill,” with neither side able to launch major offensives, said by the one western official on Friday. 

On condition of anonymity to discuss military assessments, the official, who spoke said the whole tempo of the campaign has slowed, partly because both sides recognize that “this is a marathon not a sprint and that conserving their munitions and expenditure rates is important.” 

Ukraine has been able to launch successful attacks deep behind Russian battle lines said by both the U.S. and Western officials. This all is eroding logistics support and control and command of Moscow’s forces, and harming their morale.

The U.S. official said that while Ukrainian troops haven’t been able to retake a lot of territory, in a number of places they have been able to significantly weaken Russian positions. 

Turkey’s leader and the U.N. chief on Thursday met in western Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A wide range of issues have been discussed including prisoner exchanges and an effort to get U.N. atomic energy experts in order to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. 

After the invasion began on Feb 24, the facility has been controlled by Russian forces since shortly and has been the target of a number of explosions. However, by shelling the plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe on the continent Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would follow up with Russian President Vladimir Putin, by saying that most of the important matters discussed would require the Kremlin’s agreement. 

Source:- https://livenewzus.com/for-ukraine-us-announces-new-military-aid/