U.S. to provide $1.2 billion in long-term security aid to Ukraine

U.S. equipment, weapons, and ammunition other than those in the Pentagon’s inventory can be shipped quickly to Ukraine, and the money will be used to ensure Ukraine’s future security needs in the months and years to come

Washington: The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the United States will provide $1.2 billion in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further strengthen its air defenses as Russia continues to bomb the country with drones, rockets and surface-to-air missiles. The aid package will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Unlike U.S. equipment, weapons, and ammunition shipped from the Pentagon’s stockpile, which can quickly arrive in Ukraine, the money will be used to ensure Ukraine’s future security needs in the months and years ahead. The Pentagon said it would fund anti-aircraft munitions and drones for air defense and provide equipment to help modify Western anti-aircraft launchers, missiles and radars so they can work with Ukrainian systems.

It will also purchase shells, howitzer ammunition, satellite imagery assistance and fund ongoing maintenance and spare parts for various systems. Those weapons included the HAWK air defense system, U.S. officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been officially announced. The Pentagon said the aid would bolster the Ukrainian military’s ability to “defend territory over the long term and deter Russian aggression.” Including this program, the United States has provided nearly $37 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The latest aid comes as Ukraine prepares to launch a spring offensive against Russian forces, where air defense has been a problem. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kiev in Russia’s latest overnight strike, officials said Monday.

Wreckage from a drone hit a two-story apartment building in Kiev’s western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris hit a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post . Russia shelled 127 targets in north, south Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said three civilians were killed in Ukraine and eastern Ukraine. Faced with economic sanctions and supply chain constraints for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has often turned to Iran’s Shahed drones to bolster its firepower. The U.S. aid package — which includes more direct military weapons and support — includes systems to shoot down and otherwise defeat drones. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Cope contributed to this report.