The U.S. is sending one other spherical of support to Ukraine that features further ammunition for Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (HIMARS) as a part of a bundle value $275 million, the State Division confirmed Friday.
The most recent support means the U.S. has supplied roughly $17.9 billion in help to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, a State Division spokesperson mentioned. The most recent bundle can also be anticipated to incorporate 500 precision-guided 155mm rounds; 2,000 155mm rounds of Distant Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Programs; 125 Excessive Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Autos (HMMWVs); greater than 1,300 anti-armor methods; small arms and greater than 2.7 million rounds of small arms ammunition; and 4 satellite tv for pc communications antennas.
"The US will proceed to face with greater than 50 allies and companions in help of the folks of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary braveness and boundless dedication," Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned in an announcement.
Earlier this month, the U.S. dedicated one other 4 HIMARS to Ukraine as a part of a $625 million arms bundle. That bundle additionally included artillery methods, ammunition and armored autos.
The U.S. has to date pulled 20 HIMARS from its personal shares for Ukraine. The superior rocket methods and munitions permit Ukraine to focus on Russian command posts, ammunition hubs and help areas past the frontlines.
The anticipated announcement comes as Ukraine and its allies, together with the U.S., warned Russia in opposition to utilizing a "soiled bomb" — a tool that makes use of typical explosives to unfold radioactive materials — in Ukraine. Russia's protection minister had claimed in a collection of calls with protection officers from different nations that it was Ukraine that was making ready to detonate such a tool in its personal territory, an accusation that the U.S. and several other allies referred to as "transparently false."
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday additionally claimed, after months of rising tensions, that he had no intention of utilizing nuclear weapons in Ukraine, based on The Related Press.
"We see no want for that," Putin mentioned, based on AP. "There isn't any level in that, neither political, nor army."
Russia just lately unleashed a wave of assaults utilizing Iranian-made self-detonating drones round Kyiv and different areas.
The Biden administration has promised 18 extra HIMARS via a contracting course of that may take "a couple of years" to ship to Ukraine, a senior protection official mentioned final month.
Margaret Brennan and Eleanor Watson contributed reporting.