US arms supplies to Kiev may end up in shadow markets of other countries

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov told Sputnik that the US has supplied Kiev with weapons worth $1.65 billion over the last month and a half.

"All these people are well-armed due to the fact that for the past eight years NATO member states have been actively supplying weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Ukraine. Since the start of the special military operation, the size of Western military assistance to Ukraine has increased. Over the past month and a half, Washington alone has supplied weapons to Kiev totaling $1.65 billion, providing hundreds of Stinger MANPADS, thousands of Javelin ATGMs, grenade launchers and other types of weapons," Syromolotov said.

The diplomat went on to say that it is obvious that Kiev, which has no control over the militants' actions, will be unable to ensure the safe storage and non-proliferation of these weapons, which may then end up in the shadow markets of other countries.

This adds to the package of billions of dollars of arms and military equipment sent to Kiev since the war began, not to mention the military training provided to Ukrainian soldiers.

The US government has provided Ukraine with $2.3 billion in security assistance since President Joe Biden took office last January, including thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems.

In parallel, the European Union has agreed to send $500 million worth of arms and equipment to Kiev, and Ukraine nonetheless still urged the West to boost its military capabilities.  

Following the start of the war, the US and its allies have rolled out comprehensive sanctions, including restrictions on the Russian central bank, export control measures, SWIFT cutoff for select banks, and closure of airspace to all Russian flights.