US To Fund Tanks For Ukraine In New Aid Package

The Biden Administration on Friday announced it will be funding tanks sent to Ukraine for the first time, part of a $400 million military assistance package that will also provide armored vehicles and drones, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The new package was detailed to reporters by the National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, while his boss, Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan, conveyed it directly to Ukrainian leadership during his unannounced visit to Kyiv on Friday.

The package includes 90 refurbished T-72 tanks, which will all come from the Czech Republic. The U.S. will pay for 45 of them to be refurbished, while the Netherlands will cover the other 45, according to Pentagon officials.

Part of the $400 million will also be directed to manufacturers to refurbish HAWK air defense missiles, and their delivery is expected to be announced in a future presidential drawdown of military assistance to Ukraine, Kirby said.

Also included in the package are 250 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles and 1,100 new Phoenix Ghost drones.

According to the White House's assessment, Ukraine is making 'incremental progress' in the south, despite Russia’s efforts. '

"There is some incremental progress by the Ukrainians in the south and, quite frankly, up in the northeast as well, as they continue to try to push the Russian lines back even further,” Kirby said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.