THE USA TO SEND ADDITIONAL $725 MILLION TO UKRAINE FOR DEFENCE AGAINST RUSSIA

The US added to a flurry of aid announcements from European allies this week by announcing that it will send Ukraine a new USD 725 million package of weapons and other military equipment.

The statement on Friday follows discussions at NATO, when defence ministers from Europe and other nations pledged to provide Ukraine with weaponry and air defence systems as Russia intensified its bombardment of Kyiv and other areas.

According to officials, the US package contains no significant new weapons. Instead, as the war enters its eighth month, the US help is primarily focused on restocking thousands of rounds of ammunition for the weapon systems Ukraine has been successfully using in its counteroffensive against Russia.

The new shipment contains ammunition for HIMARS rounds, a crucial weapon that has increased Ukraine's capacity to attack bridges, ammunition depots, and other vital targets that hinder Russia's ability to resupply troops. Twenty HIMARS have already been delivered to Ukraine by the US, and another 18 are scheduled to be delivered over the next few years.

The aid announcement comes at the end of a week filled with commitments from allies. Large and small nations alike have described new contributions to Ukraine's battle over the past two days, highlighting the enduring concerns among European countries that they could be Moscow's next target.

At a meeting of defence leaders this week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that Russia's most recent assaults have only strengthened the determination of the Ukrainian people and further unified countries of goodwill from every area of the Earth. "Our resolve and steadiness of purpose have only been strengthened," he said.

Ukraine continues to need more air defences, a senior defence official told reporters at the Pentagon. According to the official, during a recent 24-hour period, Russia fired more than 80 missiles at Ukrainian targets, with Ukrainian air defences being able to intercept nearly half of them.

The official explained that the intercepts require a lot of ammunition because it is possible that Ukrainians fired more than one round at each oncoming missile in order to discuss the US assessment of the war.

The Pentagon plans to provide powerful NASAM anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, and the British government announced last week that it will provide missiles for those systems. Additionally, Britain is sending 18 howitzer artillery guns and hundreds of drones. The Netherlands stated it would send missiles, Germany has already sent the first of four promised IRIS-T air defence systems, France has pledged additional artillery, anti-aircraft systems, and missiles, Canada is preparing to send winter gear, drone cameras, and satellite communications.

In order to target civilian targets, including a hospital, a kindergarten, and other buildings in the town of Nikopol, which is located across the river from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Russia has stepped up its attacks. Kamikaze drones are being used to attack the Kyiv region.

According to reports, the attacks were retaliation by Russia for the bombing of a strategic bridge connecting it to the annexed Crimea. Warhawks in the Kremlin have urged Putin to intensify the bombing campaign as retaliation for Saturday's truck bomb attack on the landmark Kerch Bridge. The incident has not been attributed to Ukraine.

The increase in Russian attacks also reflects an urgent move by Moscow to regain its footing in light of the fact that Ukraine's fierce counteroffensive has reclaimed cities and territories that Russia had earlier in the war overrun.

The US has invested more than USD 17.5 billion in guns and other equipment since the conflict started on February 24.