The United States will sell Ukraine $138 million worth of equipment to maintain and upgrade its Hawk air defense system to help counter Russian drone and cruise missile attacks.
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| Hawk missile launch system. (Source: Reuters) |
The AP news agency said the US State Department had given the green light to the deal, allowing the provision of critical repair and spare parts for the Hawk missile system.
“Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its defense capabilities against missile attacks as well as the air capabilities of Russian forces,” the ministry said in a statement.
In 2022, the US began shipping Hawk interceptor missiles to Ukraine as an upgrade to the Stinger air defense missile system - smaller and with a shorter range.
On the same day, during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that Kiev did not ask countries to send troops to fight, but only needed "the means to sustain their efforts."
“The issue of Kiev and the outcome of the conflict will also have global implications for our national security,” the Pentagon chief said.
Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Russia's seizure of control of territory in Ukraine could "change the balance of power in Europe".
Speaking to the National Committee on US-China Relations on April 9, the US diplomat said: "We have told Beijing directly that if this continues, it will affect the US-China relationship. We will not sit back and say everything is fine."
According to Mr. Campbell, maintaining peace and stability in Europe is “America's most important mission in history.”
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