On Friday, the US Department of Defence announced that it would set aside $300 million in “security assistance” for Ukraine to bolster the country’s defence capabilities, adding to the $1.6 billion Washington has committed since Russia invaded in late February.
The package includes laser-guided rocket systems, drones, ammunition, night-vision devices, tactical secure communications systems, medical supplies and spare parts.
“This decision underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in support of its heroic efforts to repel Russia’s war of choice,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
Speaking to Mr Zelensky last night, Mr Johnson congratulated Ukraine’s “brave” armed forces for successfully pushing back Russian forces in a number of areas across the country.
The Prime Minister also “committed to continue to step up defensive support”.
But some believe more should be done.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Evelyn N. Farkas, deputy assistant secretary of defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia under Barack Obama said providing these kinds of weapons “is frankly the morally correct thing to do.”
“The media has already reported that they’re going to be providing tanks. It sounds like they’ve also been addressing air defence systems. If they provide anti-ship maritime defences, that would also be critical,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is provide them with equipment that they can turn around and use the next day.”
“I hope that they will be providing the fighter aircraft and I and I see no reason to publicise that. Ukraine is proving that they are 100 per cent worthy of this kind of assistance.
“In the past, we hesitated because we were afraid it would just encourage the Russians to turn around and expand either territorially or in terms of their operations.
“At this point, this kind of equipment doesn’t escalate the situation and in fact, if we don’t provide it to the Ukrainians, we will be frankly culpable for any failure to eject the Russians.”
