WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) – The United States announced on Saturday that it would send small arms, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons worth $200 million (183 million euros) to Ukraine, Ukrainian officials having requested access to additional defense equipment to deal with the bombardments of the Russian forces.
In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US President Joe Biden ordered that up to $200 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be earmarked for the defense of Ukraine.
Antony Blinken said he had authorized a fourth delivery of weapons from US defense stockpiles, as directed by the US President, “to help Ukraine deal with the armour, air and other threats it faces “.
“The United States and our allies and partners stand in solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of Kremlin aggression,” he said in a statement. “The international community is united and determined to hold (Russian President Vladimir) Putin accountable.”
These funds “will make it possible to provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine, in particular with anti-armour and anti-aircraft systems, as well as small arms”, indicated an American official preferring to remain anonymous.
The United States has sent weapons to Ukraine from its defense stockpiles on several occasions, in autumn 2021, December and February.
(Report Andrea Shalal and Steve Holland; French version Camille Raynaud)
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