The United States will provide Ukraine with advanced multiple rocket launchers and ammunition, Reuters cites a senior Joe Biden administration official.
"We have moved quickly to send Ukraine a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition so it can fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table," Biden wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times.
The 11th package of security assistance will be announced today, says Reuters. This will include rocket systems such as HIMARS M142 (High Mobility Advanced Rocket Systems) capable of hitting targets within the range of 80 km.
"These systems will be used by the Ukrainians to repel Russian advances on Ukrainian territory, but they will not be used on targets in Russian territory," one US official said.
The new package is evaluated at $700 million. The US will continue providing Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger homing missiles, drones, helicopters and artillery systems.
The Biden administration has been preparing to step up the kind of weaponry it is offering Ukraine by sending advanced, long-range rocket systems such as HIMARS since 27 May, according to CNN. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said at the conclusion of the second Ukraine Contact Group meeting on 23 May that 20 countries “announced new security assistance packages" for the country. Denmark agreed to provide Ukraine with a Harpoon launcher and missiles to “help Ukraine defend its coast.” Czechia also agreed to send “substantial support” to Ukraine including “a recent donation of attack helicopters, tanks and rocket systems,” Austin said at a news conference at the conclusion of the meeting.
