The new $400 million military aid package will be announced by Washington during a meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday, according to the officials.
The United States said it would discuss new military arms assistance for Ukraine with Germany’s leader during a meeting on Friday, as Ukrainian forces held on to Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
One of the bloodiest battles has taken place in Donetsk province for months as Russian forces have attacked Bakhmut in waves.
“In Bakhmut, the fighting takes place around the clock…the situation is critical,” Ukrainian NV Radio quoted Vice Commander Volodymyr Nazarenko as saying.
Among the items in the purchase agreement are more guided multiple launch rockets (GMLRS) for HIMARS launchers, ammunition for Bradley fighting vehicles, and bridges launched from armored vehicles.
Reports indicate that the military aid will be funded by the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to transfer articles and services without congressional approval during emergencies.
At Friday’s White House meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Joe Biden will discuss aid for Ukraine.
“Our forces are tasked with inflicting as many losses as possible on the enemy. Every meter of Ukrainian land is worth hundreds of lives to the enemy.”
More than 85 attacks have been repelled in the five main sectors of the Bakhmut front line during the past 24 hours, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Military reported.
A morning report by the General Staff said that Russia continues to target civilians in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts with air and missile strikes. Moscow denies this.
“Civilians are wounded, high-rise apartments are damaged and private houses are destroyed,” read a statement.
In the framework of the “filtration measures,” about 200 residents have been relocated to an unknown destination. Russian mercenaries now live in their homes.
More than $30 billion in security assistance has been pledged by the US to Kyiv since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on a full-scale last year, including artillery, missiles, small arms, millions of rounds of ammunition, radar systems, drones, and armored vehicles.
There is concern that China may provide Russia with lethal aid, which Biden and Scholz could discuss, according to a senior administration official.
While discussing the situation in Ukraine, sanctions against China will likely come up, and perhaps third parties supporting Russia may also be discussed.”
U.S. officials and other sources say the Biden administration is informing close allies that sanctions may be imposed on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia. In addition, U.S. officials have not provided any public evidence to support their suspicions that China is considering providing such assistance.
According to White House national security spokesman John Kirby, when asked if Biden and Scholz might discuss potential sanctions against China, “the issue of Russia’s third-party support could come up.”
The meeting ended without a joint statement, with Russia accusing the West of blackmailing and threatening it.
Blinken said in a forum in the Indian Capital that Russia cannot wage war with impunity, because otherwise, it will give the impression that future aggressors can do the same.
In response to a question about possible sanctions against China, John Kirby said, “I certainly expect that there will be a debate about third-party support for Russia.”
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