According to a media report, the US government wants to provide Ukraine with a modern surface-to-air missile defense system. The United States plans to announce this week that it has purchased the system, dubbed NASAMS, for Ukraine. The weapon that the Norwegian arms company Kongsberg developed together with the American Raytheon also protects the airspace above the White House in Washington.
Ukrainian government officials requested the weapon because it could hit targets more than 100 miles away, CNN reported Monday. However, the Ukrainian armed forces would probably need to be trained on the system first. According to the report, the US plans to announce further military support, including additional artillery ammunition and radar equipment.
“Need strong air defense”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly calls for the delivery of missile defense systems. On Saturday alone, Russia fired 62 rockets into Ukraine, he said in his video address on Sunday night. Any delay in arms deliveries to Ukraine is an invitation to Russia to strike again. The war is most fierce in the east of the country, with huge losses in soldiers and equipment. “We need a strong air defense – modern, fully effective,” Zelenskyy told the G7 countries.
The Kremlin in Moscow reacted cautiously to the CNN report. There is still no communication from the United States, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Interfax news agency. Russia is constantly taking measures to protect its interests.
Arms shipments in the billions
US President Joe Biden is currently attending the G7 summit in Bavaria on Monday, where Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine was discussed. Last Thursday, the United States announced further arms supplies to Ukraine for an amount of about EUR 428 million. Since the start of the war, four months ago, the US government has said it has pledged or has already supplied Ukraine with weapons and equipment worth about €5.8 billion.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
