A day after Russia ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the city of Kherson amid the ensuing battle between Russia and Ukraine, the US on Thursday announced the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance, worth of $400 million for Ukraine.
Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said the package includes “important air defense contributions” such as missiles for Hawk air defense systems as well as US Avenger air defense systems that come equipped with Stinger missiles. Other than it, the package also includes, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, 21,000 155 mm artillery rounds, 500 precision-guided 155 mm artillery rounds, 10,000 120 mm mortar rounds, 100 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvees, 400 grenade launchers, small arms, optics and more than 2 Cr rounds of small arms ammunition, demolition equipment for obstacle clearing, Cold weather protective gear, the statement further stated.
Sullivan also said the US has detected some signs that Russian forces may be planning to withdraw from the Ukraine city of Kherson.
The announcement by the US came just a day after Russia ordered withdrawal of troops from the crucial city of Kherson, which also happened to be the only city Russia was able to capture since February’s invasion.
The order came at a meeting in Moscow between Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, as the Ukrainian forces were making further advances towards Kherson city from two directions reports said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the European Commission on proposed an unprecedented support package for Ukraine of up to EUR18 billion for 2023. This will come in the form of highly concessional loans, disbursed in regular instalments as of 2023.
This stable, regular and predictable financial assistance – averaging EUR1.5 billion per month – will help cover a significant part of Ukraine’s short-term funding needs for 2023.
