US approves next multi-million package of arms supplies to Ukraine

The US government has approved the next package of arms supplies to Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the decision on July 2.

“Ukrainians continue to face brutality highlighted once again this week by an attack that struck a shopping mall filled with civilians.  They continue to fight for their country, and the United States continues to stand by them and their just cause,” he said, according to a statement issued by the US embassy in Kyiv.

“As the United States prepares to commemorate our independence, we remain committed to the independence, security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing our fourteenth drawdown of arms and equipment from US Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine’s self-defence since August 2021 of up to $50 million.”

Blinken added that the most recent authorisation, along with the Defense Department’s parallel announcement of $770 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding, will bring total US military assistance to Ukraine to more than $6.92 billion since Russia launched its brutal, unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

 He vowed further a US commitment to standing with Ukraine.