WASHINGTON: The United States has authorized the sale of $138 million worth of military equipment to Ukraine to bolster its air defense capabilities, focusing on repairing and enhancing its HAWK missile systems. This move comes as a larger $60 billion aid package remains stalled in Congress, frustrating efforts to provide crucial support to Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Ukraine’s air defense infrastructure, initially reliant on Soviet-era equipment, has been significantly reinforced with advanced US-made systems, including Patriot missiles and HAWK systems, since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency emphasized Ukraine’s urgent need to fortify its defenses against Russian missile strikes and aerial threats.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has underscored the critical importance of the aid package, warning that Ukraine risks losing the war without it. Recent Russian attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have heightened the urgency for additional support.
Despite the Senate’s approval of the aid package, internal disputes within the Republican Party over President Biden’s immigration policies have delayed its progress through Congress. This delay has forced Ukrainian forces to ration ammunition, underscoring the urgent need for timely support.
The approved sale of military equipment aims to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and protect critical national infrastructure. However, the broader aid package remains crucial to ensuring Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian aggression in the long term.
