Oleksandr Magura/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images
A crew member of an 85mm divisional gun D-44 of the Blind Fury Corps of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army fires on Russian military positions in the Vovchansk region of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, May 16, 2024.
CNN
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The United States will send $275 million in military aid to Ukraine as part of “efforts to help Ukraine repel Russian aggression near Kharkiv,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday.
The top U.S. diplomat said the new aid “includes urgently needed capabilities” for Ukrainian forces as they fight to halt a Russian advance on key cities in the northeast.
“We are delivering this new assistance as quickly as possible so that Ukrainian military forces can use it to defend their territory and protect their people,” Blinken said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the new aid package in a post on X Friday, saying it was “vital at a time when our enemies are intensifying their aggression on the front lines.”
“Today in Kharkiv I saw firsthand the importance of strengthening our soldiers to defend our people, our cities, and our communities. Freedom is a value our two nations cherish. Protecting it requires continued strong support from the United States and our other allies,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Russian forces launched a surprise cross-border offensive in mid-May, advancing toward Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Seven people were killed in a Russian missile attack on Thursday.
Ukrainian troops are suffering from a lack of weapons as they struggle to hold off a Russian advance. During a CNN visit to the town of Liptsy, about 20 miles north of Kharkiv, troops were seen using aging, inadequate weapons to fend off highly-equipped Russian forces reinforced by drones.
Secretary of State Blinken said the latest U.S. military assistance package, the fifth since the multi-billion-dollar national security budget was passed, includes artillery shells, Javelin and TOW missiles, HIMARS munitions, explosive ordnance, anti-armor mines, tactical vehicles, bulletproof vests, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection equipment.
The top U.S. diplomat visited Ukraine last week and reaffirmed U.S. support for President Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials following the passage of the National Security Supplementary Bill.
“We are determined that Ukraine wins this war and succeeds for its people and its future,” Blinken said at a news conference alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. “We are committed to making sure that Ukraine has the equipment it needs to win on the battlefield.”
But the United States continues to insist that Ukraine cannot use American weapons to attack Russian targets on Russian territory.
“We do not encourage or enable attacks outside of Ukraine,” Blinken reiterated last week.
Meanwhile, G7 finance ministers are meeting in Italy to discuss a plan to redirect Russian assets frozen abroad at the start of the war toward Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, according to people familiar with the matter. If finalized, the plan would allow U.S. and European banks to channel tens of billions of dollars in revenue from Russian investments to Ukraine, providing a vital financial lifeline at a time when the political maneuverings of Ukraine’s main backers remain unclear.
This story has been updated with additional reports.
CNN Kayla Tausche contributed to this report.
