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According to Bloomberg News, the Pentagon is expected to announce another $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine, with the goal of bolstering the country’s air defenses as Kiev launches its much-touted counteroffensive against Russian soldiers.
The announcement is expected later this week, according to the outlet, citing anonymous US sources. The munitions will be sent under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which has contributed billions of dollars in American weapons to Kiev since hostilities with Moscow started last year.
Patriot missiles of two varieties will be included in the latest aid package: the Patriot Advanced Capability Missile-3 (PAC-3) and the Guidance Enhanced Missile. The later bombs, manufactured by Raytheon, are believed to have “improved ability to defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or enemy aircraft in complement to the PAC-3 missile,” according to the US weapons manufacturer.
According to reports, Washington would also provide MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile launchers, an old weapon whose initial variant entered service in 1960. Officials initially stated that the platform would be delivered in November, but then stated that it would require refurbishment and repairs funded by the USAI project.
The fresh military aid came after Kiev launched numerous big attacks on Russian forces in recent days. Officials in Kiev, on the other hand, argue that the actual “counteroffensive” operation has yet to begin, with Aleksey Danilov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, arguing that “when we start the counteroffensive, everyone will know about it, they will see it.”
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stated that the military was prepared to launch an attack, telling the Wall Street Journal that while Kiev would have preferred more Western weapons, “we can’t wait for months.” He earlier warned that the country lacked sufficient air defenses to fight Russian strikes, and he called for more Patriot launchers.
Moscow has frequently opposed international military aid to Kiev, claiming that the armaments will just prolong the conflict and do little to discourage its goals. The Kremlin has also declared that it considers Ukraine’s Western backers to be de facto participants in the conflict, citing the continuous flow of weaponry, intelligence support, training, and other assistance.