Muristek
Kyiv, June 16
President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the US would send an additional USD 1 billion in military aid, the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. The aid will include anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — all key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested.
Germany is providing Ukraine with three multiple launch rocket systems of the kind that Kyiv has said it urgently needs to defend itself against Russia's invasion. Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Wednesday that Germany would transfer three M270 medium-range artillery rocket systems along with ammunition.
Germany said the transfer, which echoes similar moves by Britain and the United States, will be accompanied by training and will have "a swift and significant battlefield impact". In recent days, Ukrainian officials have spoken of the heavy human cost of the war, with Kyiv's forces outgunned and outnumbered in the east. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Biden for the new aid package. "The security support of the United States is unprecedented," he said, reporting on a phone call the two leaders held earlier on Wednesday. "It brings us closer to a common victory over the Russian aggressor." Zelenskyy said he has accepted invitations to speak at the NATO and Group of Seven summits at the end of the month. — AP
Russia, US at a very, very hot point of confrontation: Kremlin
Moscow and Washington are currently at "a very, very hot point of confrontation", a news agency said, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Peskov said earlier on Thursday that Russia and the US must discuss the extension of the START nuclear arms reduction treaty. Reuters