According to Politico, Washington is finalizing one of the largest military aid packages for Ukraine, preparing to sign weapons contracts worth $6 billion.
The United States is expected to announce these contracts for Ukraine on Friday, although their delivery may take several years.
The reported contracts will include Patriot air defense systems, artillery ammunition, drones, anti-aircraft weapons, and air-to-air missiles.
It’s anticipated that Kyiv won’t receive these weapons for several years, as the funds are allocated through the Security Assistance Initiative for Ukraine.
This means the US government will contract American defense companies to produce new technology and equipment for Ukraine, rather than sending existing weapons from the Pentagon’s inventory.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently stated that the United States and Europe haven’t fulfilled promised military support to Ukraine in recent months.
Stoltenberg emphasized the need for honesty, citing delays in reaching agreements on new aid packages and lesser-than-expected contributions from European countries.
Since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has received significant financial and military aid from Western countries, led by the United States and European allies.
Russia opposes arms supplies to Ukraine, viewing them as hindering conflict resolution. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any shipments containing weapons to Ukraine would be targeted by Russia.
He also accused the US and NATO of direct involvement in the conflict, not only through arms provision but also by training personnel in various European countries.
