Two U.S. officials announced on Thursday that a new U.S. weapon package for Ukraine will include approximately 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. One of them stated that the package would be worth around $2.8 billion.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden stated that the United States was considering sending the Bradleys to Ukraine as a way to counter Russia’s invasion. Russia’s ambassador claimed that the United States was plotting a “dangerous route.”
Officials said that the latest security package for Ukraine will be revealed on Friday.
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One official stated that $800 million came from Foreign Military Financing, which was used to finance weapons purchases in Ukraine. The remaining funds were provided by the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the United States of America to quickly transfer defense articles such as Humvees and trucks from stock without the need for congressional approval.
Since the mid-1980s, the U.S. Army has used this armored vehicle with powerful guns to transport troops around battlefields.
The Army is equipped with thousands of Bradleys that could provide more firepower to the Ukrainians on the battlefield. However, Biden’s move is not enough to send Abrams tanks into Ukraine as the Ukrainians requested.
Last month, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian President, told Congress that the US approved tens to billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine against the Russian invasion was not charity but an investment into global security.
As Europe’s largest land conflict continues, the United States has sent $21.3 billion to Kyiv in security assistance. Tens of thousands have been killed.
It was not immediately known what Friday’s security assistance package would be. The White House declined comment.
The Russian ambassador to Washington stated that the Bradleys decision showed Moscow’s U.S. counterparts had “never even tried to listen” to their numerous requests to consider possible consequences of Washington’s dangerous course.
In comments posted in Russian and English on Facebook by the Russian Embassy, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov stated that there was no need to talk about weapons transfers as being defensive.
In remarks that he said as replies to media questions, the actions of the administration “indicate a lack in any desire for a peaceful settlement.”
The United States has been sending more powerful weapons to Ukraine. As the war progressed, and Ukraine’s needs changed significantly, more sophisticated weapons systems such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems were sent to Kyiv.
The United States recently pledged to send a Patriot missile defense system to counter Russian drone and missile attacks. Still, logistics and training needs to be worked out.
The Army is currently working with industry to replace its Bradley fleet and modernize it.
