WASHINGTON: As Ukraine gets ready for a new phase of its conflict with Russia, the United States of America made an enormous new package of weapons and ammunition for the country on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Pentagon, the package does not include the battle tanks that Kiev requested. Instead, it includes 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers, 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Avenger air defense systems, and both large and small munitions.
It stated, "Ukraine will have two brigades of armored capability with the 59 Bradley IFVs included in this package, together with the 50 Bradleys committed on January 6 and the 90 Stryker APCs."
A package worth more than $3 billion that was announced last week included an initial 50 Bradleys.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has provided more than $26.7 billion in military assistance to the country.
For Ukraine, Western allies have pledged billions of dollars worth of weapons. Ukraine is requesting additional assistance to combat Moscow's invasion because it is concerned that the winter will allow Russian forces time to regroup and launch a significant attack.
During his trip to Washington in December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States to maintain its support for Ukraine while emphasizing that aid to the country is an investment in democracy and not charity.