Following the recent announcement of a $425 million aid package, the U.S. Department of Defense reported this Monday that an additional $400 million package has been released to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, focusing specifically on the shipment of various types of artillery ammunition. This announcement was made by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III during a surprise visit to Ukrainian territory, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Delving into details, the package described in the Pentagon’s official statement confirms the shipment of ammunition for HIMARS systems, mortars (60mm, 81mm, and 120mm), and howitzers (155mm). Additionally, Ukrainian troops will receive a batch of TOW missiles, AT-4 and Javelin anti-tank weapons, as well as M113 infantry transport vehicles, among other items.
In official statements from the Pentagon: “The United States will continue working with about 50 allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and defend against Russian aggression.” It is worth noting that the initially mentioned package also aimed to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities, as an increase in Russian air strikes is expected once winter begins.
This issue is crucial, considering that ongoing Western support in terms of arms supplies is vital for the so-called “victory plan” recently presented by President Zelensky, which has also received approval from the U.S. and several allies to be used in Russian territory. To better grasp the scale of this support, it can be highlighted that over $61 billion has been invested from Washington over the past two years.
However, it should be noted that concerns are already emerging regarding the real feasibility of Zelensky’s plan. Despite the continued flow of Western supplies, Russia has managed to advance in the east of the country, reclaiming much of the territory retaken by Ukrainian troops in Kursk. The aforementioned “victory plan” stipulates nothing less than the complete Ukrainian recovery of all territories occupied since the start of the 2022 invasion, reflecting a vision of the war that is difficult to assimilate from the outside given the current circumstances.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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