The US sent $800 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, with heavy weapons

US President Joe Biden talks about Washington’s response to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine at the end of March in Washington DC, USA reuters

Reuters reported US President Joe Biden on April 14 announced a new military support package worth $800 million for Ukraineincluding heavy military equipment that had never been sent before.

Statement made by President Biden after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This support package brings the total amount of military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched the military operation to more than 2.5 billion USD. The US has transferred to Ukraine artillery systems, artillery shells, armored personnel carriers and unmanned coastal defense ships.

President Biden said he had also approved the delivery of more helicopters and said supplying them to Ukraine was “very important”.

“We cannot rest now. As I assured President Zelensky, the American people will continue to stand with the people of the United States.” Ukraine bravery in the fight for freedom,” the US president said in a statement.

In the new support package, the US will send 11 Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine. These planes were originally intended to support the government Afghanistan before the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.

The US support package also includes 18 155mm howitzers, along with 40,000 rounds of artillery shells, anti-aircraft radars, 200 armored personnel carriers and an additional 300 Switchblade “suicide” UAVs.

This is also the first time the US has supplied artillery to Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that with some systems such as radar and control systems, Ukrainian forces will need additional training because they are not familiar with the use of US military equipment.

“We know time is not on our side,” Kirby said when asked about the speed of delivery of the weapons.

These weapons will be supported by the use of the Presidential Drawdown, allowing President Biden to authorize the transfer of American goods and services without congressional approval in the event of an emergency. urgent.