BIDEN ANNOUNCES MORE ARTILLERY, AMMO, AND ANTI-SHIP MISSILES FOR UKRAINE

Wed 15 June 2022:

After reaffirming Washington’s support for Kyiv against Russia’s invasion in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden announced a new package of arms and ammunition for Ukraine.

The package of $1 billion-worth of arms includes more artillery, coastal anti-ship defense systems and ammunition for artillery and advanced rocket systems that Ukraine is already using, Biden said.

In the phone call, Biden said he “reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression,” according to a statement.

Separately, Biden also announced $225 million in additional humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians get drinking water, medical supplies, healthcare, food, and shelter.

In Biden’s statement, he said the weapons would support Ukraine in its defensive operations in the Donbas. Asked about reports that Russia was progressing in the east of Ukraine, the Pentagon official said: “We’re likely to be in this phase for a while. The Russian gains continue to be incremental.”

The official added: “We believe that when these capabilities do arrive, they will make a significant difference and that they will arrive in time to do so.”

The Pentagon also released a breakdown of the weapons and aid to be delivered:

18 155mm Howitzers
36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition
18 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers
Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
Four Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment
Two Harpoon coastal defense systems
Thousands of secure radios
Thousands of Night Vision devices, thermal sights, and other optics
Funding for training, maintenance, sustainment, transportation, and administrative costs