Washington, United States | AFP | US President Joe Biden on Saturday approved a new $200 million aid in military equipment for Ukraine, as Russia intensifies bombing of civilian areas.
In a memorandum addressed to the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and dated this Saturday, Biden authorizes the release of these funds “in defense material and services of the Department of Defense”, as well as in “military training”, to “bring help to Ukraine”.
After funds unlocked at the end of 2021, Washington authorized an unprecedented $350 million in aid for military equipment on February 26, two-thirds of which was delivered on March 4, according to a Pentagon official.
This aid package was intended to “urgently provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles,” the head of US diplomacy for political-military affairs, Jessica Lewis, explained to Congress.
The announcement follows Russia’s threat this Saturday to target Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.
In an interview with the Pervy Kanal television channel, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said he had “warned the United States” that these “convoys” were becoming “legitimate targets”, citing the air defense systems man-portable and anti-tank missile systems.
The United States this week rejected a Polish offer to hand over its Mig-29 fighters to the US military for onward delivery to Ukraine, calling the proposal “risky” and likely to spark a Russian escalation.
The US Congress on Thursday approved a new federal budget that includes nearly $14 billion in funding for the Ukraine crisis.
