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Ukrainian soldier at the front near Bakhmut (in November 2022)
Photo: BULENT KILIC / AFP
According to the Reuters news agency, the United States is preparing a multi-billion dollar aid package for Ukraine, which is to include longer-range missiles for the first time.
The $2.2 billion package, to be announced later this week, also includes equipment for Patriot air defense systems, precision ammunition and Javelin anti-tank weapons.
Reuters cites two US officials familiar with the matter.
The US President's Office initially declined to comment.
According to the report, most of the package – an estimated $1.725 billion – is to be financed from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) fund.
The USAI allows President Joe Biden's administration to purchase weapons directly from industry and not from US gun inventories.
The USAI funds would also be used to purchase a new weapon, Boeing's "Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb," which has a range of around 150 kilometers.
According to the manufacturer, the precision missile is GPS-guided, can overcome electronic jammers, works in all weather conditions and can be used against armored vehicles.
The US had rejected Ukraine's requests for ATACMS missiles with a longer range of 297 kilometers.
In addition to the USAI funds, according to Reuters sources, more than $400 million will come from the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the President to draw on US holdings in emergencies without Congressional approval.
These aids would include mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, guided multiple rocket launchers and ammunition.
Since Russia invaded in February 2022, the US has already provided around $27.2 billion in security aid to Ukraine.
Zelenskyj: »We expect decisions from our partners in the EU«
In the midst of the Russian invasion, which has been going on for almost a year now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wants to push ahead with his country's planned EU accession.
From an EU-Ukraine summit at the end of this week, Kyiv expects "news," said Zelenskyj in his evening video address on Tuesday.
»We expect decisions from our partners in the European Union that (...) correspond to our progress.
Progress that is obviously there - and that even in spite of the large-scale war.«
A summit meeting between EU Council President Charles Michel and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Selenskyj is planned for February 3rd.
Ukraine has been a candidate for EU membership since June.
Associated with this, however, are conditions, among other things, in the fight against corruption.
Zelenskyj explained in this context that he was not yet finished with the reshuffling of management positions.
Anyone who does not comply with the strict standards must expect to be fired.
“Decisions will be made.
And those in the system who do not meet the key demands of the state and society should not rest on their laurels.”
Habeck: "Not quite clear where the line runs there"
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) has spoken out against the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.
In the ZDF program "Markus Lanz" on Tuesday evening, Habeck spoke of a "balancing act" between "maximum support" for Ukraine, without Germany itself becoming a war party.
"And of course it's not entirely clear where the line goes there."
From what he knows, Ukraine needs the maintenance of the West for the modern Western fighter jets, which "probably" could then go a step too far, said Habeck.
It is right to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine.
"But there's a difference between war tanks and fighter jets."
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, warned the German government against hasty rejection of certain weapons demands from Ukraine.
“We're always ruling out something that we're ultimately willing to do.
That makes us unbelievable.
This rushing forward when saying no should finally stop, it's harmful," Heusgen told the newspapers of the Bayern media group.
You have to change your perspective and evaluate what is possible and sensible under international law, politically and militarily.
Referring to the debate about the possible delivery of fighter jets, Heusgen said: "As far as aircraft are concerned, their delivery is legitimate under Article 51 of the UN Charter."
"If we still had Russian planes from GDR times that can be operated by Ukrainian pilots, I would say: Of course we'll make them available to Ukraine." But now it's about American F-16 jets, not about Germany at all available, according to Heusgen.
phw/dpa/AFP/Reuters