US gives green light for arms shipments to Ukraine

WASHINGTON – The United States (US) Department of State (Department of State) told Congress it had approved export permits for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania , which would allow those countries to ship American-made weapons to Ukraine.

It was revealed by an administration official, a US State Department official and a Congressional aide who knew about the problem.

The weapons include highly sought-after ones such as American anti-aircraft weapons systems from Latvia and Lithuania that will help Ukraine repel Russian aircraft that some officials and experts believe will lead in the early stages of the Russian invasion.

Estonia was given approval to transfer the anti-tank Javelin missile system, which the US had provided Ukraine in the past.

Also read: Russia to the US and the West: Stop supplying weapons to Ukraine

It is not clear when the weapons will arrive in Ukraine, senior administration officials said the timing – as well as the price for Ukraine – would depend on the countries that were given the approval.

“The Biden administration is also working to transfer five Russian-made helicopters into Ukrainian control,” the same official said CNN, Thursday (20/1/2022).

A notice has been sent to Congress for the helicopter, the Mi-17, which is already in Ukraine for maintenance after being pulled out of Afghanistan during the withdrawal there.

The US State Department cited close coordination with European countries and Ukraine when asked about the transfer of export licenses.

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