US pushes to deliver military aid to Ukraine before May 9: Politico
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It is unlikely that all the weapons included in the package will be delivered by May 9, official sources told Politico.
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A Ukrainian serviceman with the 65th Brigade rides in an armored vehicle at the frontline in Zaporizhye region, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2024 (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)
Politico reported on Tuesday, citing sources from the White House, that the US is hoping to send a portion of military aid to Ukraine from the national security supplemental package before May 9.
However, the report notes it is improbable that all the weapons included in the package will be delivered by then.
"It depends on the capability. Some things are easier to transit and others," an official was quoted as saying. "Some aid, like artillery shells … will be going in, but other things may take some more time."
The report further notes that the US anticipates that Ukraine could promptly receive ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), but it may take a longer time for other items such as 155mm artillery to reach the battlefield.
Read more: Zelensky: Kiev held hostage by US politics
The House of Representatives recently approved a $61 billion Ukraine aid package, with the Senate expected to vote as Tuesday before sending it to the president's desk.
During a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, President Biden assured expeditious delivery of new security assistance packages to Ukraine as soon as the Senate passes the national security supplemental and he signs it into law.
On Monday, Politico reported that the latest Ukraine aid package is expected to surpass previous ones in scale and substance, as it features armored vehicles alongside air defenses and artillery.
Insiders from the Pentagon revealed that the forthcoming package will be "significantly" larger than the previous $300 million allocation and that the package is expected to include a wide range of armored vehicles, including Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), Humvees, and M113 armored personnel carriers.
Read more: France delays decision of SAMP/T missile system supplies to Ukraine
