US announces new military aid package for Ukraine

The United States has announced a new $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine. It will include, in particular, air defense systems, ammunition and artillery shells. Satellite imagery and equipment will be provided to integrate Western air defense systems into Ukraine’s existing air defense systems.

The United States will not only support Ukraine in its most urgent needs for weapons and ammunition, but will also provide long-term assistance, the Pentagon stressed.

“The U.S. will continue to work with its allies and partners to ensure Ukraine is capable of meeting immediate battlefield needs as well as long-term security needs.“, the US Department of Defense said in a statement.

The new package is provided as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides for the needs of Ukraine in the long term.

Under USAI, the Pentagon purchases the necessary resources from industry and partners, rather than providing them from its own stocks.

The new package includes:

• additional means of air defense and ammunition;

• equipment for the integration of Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukrainian air defense systems;

• ammunition to counter drones;

• 155 mm artillery shells;

• commercial satellite imagery;

• support for the training of Ukrainian military personnel and maintenance of military equipment.

Earlier published an interview with Yuri Lavrenov, co-founder of Skiftech, a manufacturer of a full cycle of modern training systems for the military. He claims that their new joint project with the Americans can train up to a million soldiers and officers in one year.