US announces 2.1 billion dollars in military aid for Ukraine

The US announced a $2.1 billion military aid package for Ukraine on Friday 9 June, just as Kiev appeared to be launching its long-awaited counter-offensive aimed at driving Russia out of the country, AFP writes.

The package includes missiles for Patriot air defence systems, artillery shells, drones and laser-guided missile systems.

The new weapons illustrate “our continued commitment to Ukraine’s core near-term capabilities and the enduring capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

The United States has provided Ukraine with up to $40.4 billion in military equipment since the beginning of 2021, the most since Russia invaded the country on 24 February 2022.

It came at a crucial point in the war. Ukraine has been stockpiling weapons and training forces in preparation for what is likely to be an all-out ground campaign to try to force Russian troops to withdraw from the large areas of south-eastern and southern Ukraine that they occupy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the offensive had begun, while Ukrainian troops were reported to have attacked three key points along a long front./RSE/