White House plans billion-dollar security package for Ukraine: Report

The White House is
planning a $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine as the east
European nation’s troubles with Russia refuse to cease, Reuters reported citing
three sources briefed on the matter. Sources said the billion-dollar security
package, the largest yet, includes variety of ammunitions, including those for
long-range weapons and armoured medical transport vehicles.

A formal announcement
of the package is likely to be made on Monday (August 8). This would take the
total amount of US assistance to Ukraine since the Russian ‘invasion’ to about
$8.8 billion. Officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said
the weapons package can change in value and content before they are signed.

The current form
of the package, awaiting President Biden’s signature, would be valued at $1
billion and include munitions for HIMARS, NASAMS surface-to-air missile system
ammunition and as many as 50 M113 armoured medical transports.

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The new package
comes after the Pentagon decided to allow Ukrainians access a US military
hospital in Germany near Ramstein air base. The Pentagon also announced a $550
million security assistance package for Ukraine. The package includes High
Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

HIMARS have been
critical in artillery duels between Russia and Ukraine which has been described
as “grinding” with very little movement of the front line in Ukraine’s eastern
Donbas region.

The Ukraine-Russia
conflict began on February 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “special
military operation” in Ukraine. The conflict then turned into a war of
attrition fought primarily in the east and south of Ukraine.

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Russia is
currently focused on gaining control over Donbas, a largely Russian-speaking
region. The Donbas region comprises Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, where
pro-Moscow separatists took control over territory after Russia annexed Crimea
in 2014.

The US has so far
sent 16 HIMARS to Ukraine and pledged to send two National Advanced
Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).