WASHINGTON: Washington has announced a new $300 million arms package for Kyiv but warned Ukraine that US arms should not be used to attack Russian territory, AFP reported on Wednesday.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told the journalists, “We have been very clear with the Ukrainian that we do not support any attack inside Russian territory,”
US announces to provide $300 million arms package to Kyiv
Pentagon said that the latest consignments would bring the total value of US security help to Ukraine to $37.6 billion since Russia’s Feb 2022 launch of the assault. “The US will continue to work with its partners and allies to provide Kyiv with capacities to meet its urgent battleground needs and longer-term security help requirements,” the US Defense Department said in a statement.
The US has been leading an extraordinary effort by the NATO alliance and other allied nations to supply Kyiv with arms and other help. The latest weapons consignments come as Ukraine prepares a counter-attack aimed at driving Russian troops back from occupied areas in the south and east of the country.
The assistance also comes following a spate of assaults made in shadowy situations on targets in Russia itself, including an unparalleled bombardment of drone attacks on Russia’s capital Moscow.
Kirby said, “We do not tell Ukrainians where to attack. We do not tell them where not to attack; eventually, President Zelensky and his army commanders decide what they are going to do.”
However, “We definitely do not want to see attacks inside Russian territory.” He said that despite the rising tensions over the matter, the US remains confident that Kyiv will keep its promise not to use t F-16 set to be provided by EU nations — against targets beyond Ukraine. He added that while the US is full-heartedly supporting Kyiv’s effort to defeat Russia’s invasion, it wants “to avoid World War III.”
The US Defense Department said the new arms package includes weaponries for Patriot air defense systems, Avenger air defense systems, AIM-7 air defense missiles, and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
Also part of the arms package is shells for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Zuni aircraft rockets. Washington is also providing over 30 million rounds of small arms ammo to Kyiv, the US Defense Department said.
