The US is ready to provide more than $ 2 billion worth of aid to Ukraine with long-range weapons – Reuters’ source

By Mike Rock

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is readying more than $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, expected for the first time to include long-range missiles and other weapons and ammunition, two officials said. US officials briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday .

Officials said the weapons aid is expected to be announced as soon as later this week. They are also expected to include support equipment for Patriot air defense systems, precision-guided munitions and Javelin anti-tank weapons.

One of the officials said that part of the $1.725 billion package would come from a fund called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which would allow President Joe Biden’s administration to obtain weapons. from industry rather than from existing US arsenals.

The USAI funds will be used to purchase a new weapon, the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), which has a range of 94 miles (150 km). The United States rejected requests for an ATACMS missile with a range of 185 miles (297 km).

The longer range of the GLSDB glider bomb could allow Ukraine to hit valuable military targets that are out of reach and help it continue to step up counterattacks by disrupting Russia in the rear. .

Reuters first reported on Boeing (NYSE:) Co’s proposal for the GLSDB sector for Ukraine in November.

The White House declined to comment.

In addition to USAI funds, more than $400 million in aid is expected to come from Presidential Withdrawal Agency funds, which allow the president to draw from existing U.S. stockpiles during the year. emergency situation.

That aid is expected to include mine-resistant ambush protection (MRAP) vehicles, guided multiple-launch missile systems (GMLRS) and ammunition.