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| US to Announce Sending Additional Weapons Assistance to Ukraine, Including Harpoon Missiles |
International Military - President Joe Biden's administration will soon announce an additional $650 million in aid in weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
This assistance includes for the first time a vehicle-mounted Harpoon anti-ship missile, according to people familiar with the matter. "The weapons package also includes USD 320 million for secure radios and related equipment, USD 55 million for thermal night vision optics, and USD 160 million (Rp 2.3 trillion) for training," said one of the sources as quoted by Bloomberg, Wednesday (15/6/). 2022).
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The announcement comes as Ukrainian officials have pleaded for more weapons sooner to prevent Russia's gradual advance in the east of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war might end if shipments of advanced weapons from Ukraine's allies were not accelerated. NATO ministers meet in Brussels with the nearly four-month war high on the agenda.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opened a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group pledging to maintain military support for Ukraine as the country faces a "crucial moment" on the battlefield. "We cannot underestimate the challenges facing Ukraine," Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
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"Russia used its long-range fire to try to gain control of Ukraine's position," he added. The US continues to ramp up support for Ukraine while answering questions about how long the aid flow will last and whether it will back any deal that includes Ukraine ceding its territory to Russia.