Kiev continuously receives "huge gifts" from the US and the West, including more heavy weapons

The US will announce a new military aid package worth 400 million USD; Norway will support about 7 billion Euros over the next 5 years. Bulgaria sent armored vehicles to Kiev; Germany handed over 10 Leopard tanks... are the latest "gifts" sent to Ukraine.

(10.24) Hệ thống tên lửa pháo binh cơ động cao (HIMARS) được Mỹ viện trợ cho Ukraine. (Nguồn: US Marine Corps)

The HIMARS high-mobility artillery rocket system was donated by the US to Ukraine. (Source: US Marine Corps)

The US will announce on July 25 another military aid package for Ukraine, this time worth $400 million, including artillery, anti-aircraft missiles and many ground vehicles.

The package does not include cluster munitions, US officials said, but earlier this month the US delivered its first batch of Dual-Use Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICMs) - a cluster munition fired from a 155mm howitzer - to Ukraine.

The aid package includes several Stryker armored personnel carriers, mine clearance equipment, ammunition for the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), anti-tank weapons including TOW and Javelin missiles, ammunition for the Patriot air defense system and Stinger air defense missiles, two US officials said.

In a related development, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed on July 21 (local time) that US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky are still discussing the possibility of providing long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev and the decision on this issue depends on the White House owner.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Mr. Sullivan stated: "In the end, we will provide ATACMS regardless, but that will be President Biden's decision, he has discussed that with his Ukrainian counterpart. The two sides continue to have conversations."

ATACMS is a long-range guided missile manufactured by the US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. This type of missile can also be launched from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) such as the M270 and M142 HIMARS that Ukraine has.

The latest versions of the missile can hit targets up to 310 km away with an offset of just 1 meter. Lockheed Martin says about 4,000 ATACMS missiles have been built since the 1980s.

* Norway will provide Ukraine with about 7 billion euros in aid over the next five years. The information was posted by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on its Telegram channel.

During the meeting between Norwegian Ambassador to Ukraine Helene Sand Andersen and the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the two sides also discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of border security and further cooperation in other areas amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

* Previously, on July 21, Bulgaria decided to transfer 100 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine . This is the first heavy weapons support move by the Balkan country to Kiev.

With 148 votes in favor and 52 against, the Bulgarian parliament approved the proposal put forward by the new pro-European government. Accordingly, armored vehicles will be sent to Ukraine along with weapons and spare parts. The armored vehicles to be transferred are BTR models that Bulgaria purchased in the 1980s.

“The BTR model is no longer necessary for Bulgaria’s needs, but it can become an important tool of support for Ukraine,” the Bulgarian parliament said in a statement.

* The German government has also just provided a new military aid package to Ukraine. According to the updated list of military equipment delivered to Kiev, the new military aid package includes 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks and 20 MG3 machine guns for Leopard 2 tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Dachs armored engineering vehicles.

In addition, Berlin also provided Kiev with 1,305 155 mm shells, 2,064 155 mm smoke shells, bridge systems and 12 trailers, 4 border protection vehicles, 10 ground surveillance radars, 16 Zetros trucks and 100,000 first aid kits.

Previously, last winter, the German government approved the decision to transfer 178 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine.

Source