US announces new military aid package for Ukraine, second in past 24 hours

The Department of Defense of USA reported this Thursday on a new military package of assistance to Ukraine so that the European country can defend itself on the battlefield, the second similar announcement in the last 24 hours.

The $600 million package, provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), includes equipment to increase air defenses, as well as artillery ammunition or mine clearance equipmentamong others.

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“USA will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and their longer-term security assistance needs.” the Defense Department said in a statement.

This announcement comes just one day after the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenwill pay a surprise visit to kyiv to reaffirm the country’s support and announce an aid package that exceeds 1,000 million dollars destined not only for defense but also for humanitarian support.

A total of 175 million corresponded to military aid and for the first time included depleted uranium ammunition for tanks.

That 120-millimeter caliber ammunition It is intended for Abrams tanks, the Pentagon said in a statement on Wednesday.

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The use of depleted uranium shells, which have greater armor-piercing capabilities, has long been a controversial issue due to their potential health and environmental impacts.

However, in a press conference held this Thursday, the deputy spokeswoman for the Pentagon, sabrina singhpointed out that, despite Russian criticism, there is no evidence that the depleted uranium ammunition that it has decided to deliver to Ukraine cause cancer.

Although today the Department of Defense did not count the aid offered to Ukraine, the Pentagon pointed out in its statement yesterday that the package announced on Wednesday is the 46th that, since August 2021, the Joe Biden Administration has provided.

Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the Joe Biden Administration has earmarked more than $43 billion in security aid for Ukraine and maintains that its support will last as long as necessary.

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This latest package announced today is released a few hours before the start of the G20 summit to be held in India this weekend and in which Ukraine will be one of the topics that the main world leaders will discuss.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.