The State Department announced it. It coincides with the visit of the Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.
The United States will supply Ukraine Patriot air defense system to help counter Moscow airstrikes, the State Department announced Wednesday, coinciding with the arrival of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Today’s aid includes for the first time the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of shooting down cruise missilesshort-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at a ceiling significantly higher than previously provided air defense systems,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The leader of US diplomacy made this announcement shortly before the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, will be received by his US counterpart, Joe Biden, at the White House, on his first trip abroad since the beginning of the war in the European country.
For weeks there had been speculation about the delivery of these anti-aircraft batteries that kyiv had insistently requested to intercept Russian missiles that have destroyed key infrastructure in Ukraine.
Aid
“Today’s package includes for the first time the Patriot air defense system, capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at higher altitudes than previously provided defense systems,” Blinken said in a statement.
The ad includes a Patriot anti-aircraft battery and ammunition, as well as artillery for other defensive systems, vehicles, weapons and grenades.
A Patriot battery typically includes target-sensing and tracking radar, computers, generators, and a control station, as well as eight mini-launchers with four ready-to-fire missiles.
With this new package, the military aid delivered by the United States to Ukraine amounts to 21.3 billion dollars since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
The American Secretary of State affirmed that during the last months Moscow has tried to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and that he is now using the winter cold as a weapon against the Ukrainian population.
“We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes so that kyiv can defend itself and strengthen itself at a possible negotiating table” with Russia, Blinken said.
The US capital is preparing this Wednesday to receive Zelenski, who will meet with Biden at the White House and He will address both houses of Congress.
His speech comes at a key moment, as some members of the Republican Party have expressed doubts about whether Washington should continue giving military aid to Ukraine because of the high cost to American taxpayers.
Source: EFE and AFP
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