US announces new military aid, drones for Ukraine

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. for the first time Friday said it will give Ukraine Scan Eagle surveillance drones, mine-resistant vehicles, anti-armor rounds and howitzer weapons to help Ukrainian forces regain territory and mount a counteroffensive against Russian invaders.

A senior defense official told reporters that a new $775 million aid package will include 15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops move forward in the south and east, where Russian forces have placed mines. The official said the U.S. is looking to help shape and arm the Ukrainian force of the future as the war drags on.

“These capabilities are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

This latest aid comes as Russia’s war on Ukraine is about to reach the six-month mark. It brings the total U.S. military aid to Ukraine to about $10.6 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration. It is the 19th time the Pentagon has provided equipment from Defense Department stocks to Ukraine since August 2021.



FILE - Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, June 18, 2022. U.S. officials say the United States is poised to announce it will provide Ukraine with nearly $800 million in new military aid, including at least a dozen Scan Eagle surveillance drones. Officials say the bulk of the aid package will be additional Howitzers and ammunition, including Javelin missiles that the Ukrainian military has been using effectively to try and hold off Russian forces and take back territory Moscow has gained. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-moscow-government-and-politics-c6bfbefe2a4bf671ca47108b68fe3818

[PortTack]

1. Slava Ukraine!

On a side note, Ukraine announced they are renting a satellite. go home orcs while you still can.

[BootinUp]

2. +1

[speak easy]

3. 'go home orcs'

ready or not

[electric_blue68]

12. Oh! 👍👍👍👍👍🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[BigmanPigman]

4. I wish the European countries who promised

to support and supply weapons to Ukraine would put their money where their mouths are. They are falling way short on their promise. Someone needs to pressure them more.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. 🌻🇺🇦❤🇺🇦🌻 Slava Ukraini! 🌻🇺🇦❤🇺🇦🌻

[Irish_Dem]

6. So the US is hoping to pound Putin to the negotiating table.

And give Ukraine negotiating power.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Good

Enjoy Pooty Poot.

[ananda]

8. Excellent!

!!!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

9. I think it's safe to say at this point

that US/NATO weapons systems are far superior to Russian weapons systems and I say give the Ukrainians more to send the Russians back to their side of the border.

[ancianita]

10. Drones! Awesome!

[electric_blue68]

11. TY!!!!! Slava Ukraini! 🌻🇺🇦🌻

[niyad]

13. Slava Ukraini! Thank you for the update.

[Grins]

14. Oh, shit! Stop sending Ukraine millions.

Send them MULTIPLE BILLIONS!

No more piecemeal aid. Go all in. Russia is threatening the world by its assault and takeover of a nuclear plant that will affect millions downwind.

Stop Vlad?

“It goes, Vlad, and Ukraine gets F-16’s that can hit Russia, some tank killing A-10’s, and Abrams tanks.”

[James48]

15. Poland needs to beef up

And arm with new weapons. We need to send sone A-10’s into Poland, and equip and train them, while also training up a batch of Ukrainian pilots.
Germany needs to rearm heavily, too. They need to realize the risks of not being a major power. Germany needs to build back up now.