The United States announced on March 20 an additional $350 million in military aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks.
“This week, as Russia’s unconscionable war of aggression against Ukraine continues at great human cost, we are again reminded of the boundless courage and steadfast resolve of the Ukrainian people, and the strong support for Ukraine across the international community,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.
The latest military assistance package consists of additional ammunition for HIMARS, howitzers, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); 81mm and 60mm mortar systems and mortar rounds; AT-4 anti-armor weapon systems; Grenade launchers, small arms, and associated ammunition; demolition munitions and equipment for obstacle clearing; mine clearing equipment; heavy fuel tankers; thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders; riverine patrol boats; testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair; and spare parts and other field equipment.
This is the 34th drawdown of the U.S. inventory of assistance for Ukraine since August 2021.
The United States has given over $32.5 billion of military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the Eastern European country on Feb. 24, 2022.
“We applaud the more than 50 countries that have come together to provide support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Blinken.
“Russia alone could end its war today,” he continued. “Until Russia does we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The announcement of the latest U.S. assistance to Ukraine comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 20, and just days after the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Putin and another Russian official for overseeing the abduction and “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children.
“There is no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities Ukraine, and we have been clear that those responsible must be held accountable. The ICC prosecutor is an independent actor and makes his own prosecutorial decisions based on the evidence before him. We support accountability for perpetrators of war crimes,” a State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
“We have all seen the war crimes and atrocities committed by Russian forces since the outset of this war. As you know, the United States has concluded that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. And, as the vice president [Kamala Harris] recently announced in Munich, the State Department has determined that members of Russian forces and other Russian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
“To be clear, however, the United States’ determinations regarding war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine are separate from the ICC’s independent decisions on matters before it. The prosecutor’s evidence will ultimately be weighed by the court.”
From The Epoch Times
