$ 1.8 billion that can change the course of war: the United States handed Ukraine a "gold standard" air defense
This was reported on the White House website. The US President refers to the US Constitution and US laws, including part 621 and 506 (a) (1) of the Law on Foreign Aid. It is noted that the direct allocation of defense support for Ukraine in the amount of up to 1 billion for the defense capabilities of the US Defense Ministry is agreed. In addition, military education and preparation of the Ukrainian military will be funded.
The assistance package has been provided within the special powers (DrawDown Authority) of the US President, that is, accelerated supply: the recipient of assistance can receive it within a few days or even hours. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the assistance of Ukraine has been approved and the total amount will be $ 1. 85 billion. The first deliveries of Patriot air defense systems have been agreed.
"This $ 1 billion will provide Ukraine with extended air defense opportunities and opportunities for accurate blows, as well as additional ammunition and important equipment that Ukraine effectively uses for defense on the battlefield," Blinken said.
"Today's assistance for the first time involves the transfer of Patriot air defense systems that can knock down the winged missiles, the ballistic missiles of the near action radius, as well as planes at a much higher height than other air defense systems that have been supplied earlier," Blinken said. He also said that today, December 21, Pentagon also announced 850 million new military assistance to Ukraine.
High -ranking American diplomats said the new support was when the Kremlin made an unsuccessful attempt to "erase Ukraine from the world card" and now "uses winter as weapons", causing infrastructure. There are two main components in the new military aid package. Patriot air defense systems are the first of these. Complex, accurate, expensive. They are considered the "gold standard" of air defense. And NATO value them.
To control one such system requires 100 people in the battalion and, of course, the appropriate level of preparation. Patriot supply is also evidence that NATO's best technologies are in order to help Ukraine win in the war or at least restrain the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The second important element is high -precision ammunition for Ukrainian aircraft, since the aviation of Ukraine, as well as the Russian Federation, is mainly completed with "blunt" airbags.