Tribunnews Reporter, Nur Febriana Trinugraheni
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, WASHINGTON – The United States said Saturday it would send $200 million in aid to Ukraine for additional light, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.
Ukrainian officials had previously pleaded for more equipment to defend against heavy Russian attacks.
President Joe Biden authorized additional security assistance on Saturday. This approval immediately paved the way for the delivery of military equipment aid to Ukraine.
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Quoted from Reuters.com, the total security assistance provided by the US to Ukraine has increased to 1.2 billion US dollars since January 2021 and to 3.2 billion US dollars since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine.
In a memorandum to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Joe Biden directed up to $200 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act for the defense of Ukraine.
Blinken said he had authorized the withdrawal of all four US defense stockpiles, in line with what Biden directed to help Ukraine deal with armor, air and other threats, as the conflict with Russia enters its third week.
The United States also said it would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.
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Ukraine has requested more assistance for the Javelin anti-tank gun and Stinger missiles used to shoot down the plane.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba underlined Ukraine’s need for additional military supplies in an interview with the non-profit Democratic Reform Initiative.
The last shipment of US weapons to Ukraine delivered in February included anti-armor weapons, small arms, body armor and various ammunition and anti-aircraft systems.
