US announces new military aid package for Ukraine worth $1.2 billion

The US Department of Defence has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $1.2 billion, the Pentagon’s website says.

The package includes additional air defence systems and munitions, 155mm artillery rounds, as well as equipment to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s air defence systems.

Also in the package are counter-UAV ammunition, commercial satellite imagery services, and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

“This package underscores the continued US commitment to meeting Ukraine’s most urgent requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities, such as air defence systems and munitions, while also building the capacity of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term,” reads the Pentagon statement.

In mid-April, the US announced a new military aid package to Ukraine worth $325 million. The package included, among other things, ammunition for the HIMARS MLRS systems, 155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells, optically guided missiles and precision-guided aviation ammunition.

Prior to this, the US Department of Defence announced a military assistance package to Ukraine $2.6 billion, which included ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems, HIMARS MLRS, artillery shells for 155 and 105 mm calibre guns, ammunition for tanks, about 400 grenade launchers and around 200,000 ammo for those, worth 500 million US dollars.