Media reported on US preparations for $1.25 bln military aid to Ukraine

TheUnited States will send $1.25 billion in military aid to Kiev before President Joe Biden leaves office. This was reported by the Associated Press (AP) on December 27, citing sources.

It is specified that the large aid package will include: a significant amount of ammunition, including for national advanced anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs), HAWK air defense systems, Stinger missiles and artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber.

The announcement will be made on Monday, the sources said.

President Biden approved a new $988 million aid package for Ukraine on December 12. Then the coordinator for strategic communications in the White House National Security Council John Kirby specified that the package will include air defense equipment, artillery ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and armored vehicles.

Before that, on December 7, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said that the total amount of military support to Ukraine from allies since the beginning of the special military operation exceeded $119 billion, which also includes $62 billion of U.S. aid.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine against the background of the special operation of the Russian Federation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 February 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.