Ukraine has requested new types of weapons from the United States to repel Russian aggression, including THAAD missile defense systems, F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. This is reported by Reuters with reference to documents that the agency has reviewed.
Ukrainian ministry officials presented a list of weapons during a closed-door defense industry meeting in Washington on Wednesday, December 6, attended by U.S. government officials and defense industry executives.
According to agency sources, the list includes both weapons that Ukraine already has in service, including Abrams tanks and 155-mm artillery, drones and long-range ATACMS missiles, as well as several new positions.
These include Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft and Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Super Hercules, as well as Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopters.
The documents also say that Ukraine is requesting from the United States F/A-18 Hornet fighters, three types of drones manufactured by General Atomics, including the MQ-9B Sky Guardian and the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) air defense system. manufactured by Lockheed.
On Wednesday evening, the Senate, despite a call from US President Joe Biden, blocked a bill that would provide funding for military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian assistance to the population of Gaza.
The US President said that Washington cannot allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to win in Ukraine. Biden is confident that if he wins, Russia will not stop at Ukraine and will be able to attack other countries. Agreeing on aid to Kyiv cannot wait, Biden believes. Without a decision by the United States, support for Ukraine by other allies – European countries, Japan and other partners – may also be in question, Biden emphasized.
Earlier on Wednesday, Washington allocated another aid package to Kyiv in the amount of $175 million, which included, among other things, ammunition for air defense and HIMARS systems, artillery shells, and anti-tank weapons. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that if US President Joe Biden’s request for additional funding is not approved, this package will be “one of the last.”
