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UAVs, Javelins, Stingers take priority in US weapons deliveries to Ukraine, says Pentagon

Our goal is, again, as fast as we can, as much as we can, and just keep it going to make sure that the Ukrainians can continue to defend themselves, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby
© AP Photo/Alex Brandon

WASHINGTON, April 5. /TASS/. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile systems are in the priority of the US weapons supplies to Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told a news briefing.

"…we are still delivering on the 800 million drawdowns that the president is most recently signed out," Kirby told journalists. "Again, shipments arrived on that drawdown package even over the course of the weekend."

"There'll be another one arriving in the next 24 hours. We're prioritizing the kinds of capabilities in those shipments that we know the Ukrainians need the most — Javelins, Stingers, UAVs. So, all that's being prioritized." he stated.

"Our goal is, again, I said it before, as fast as we can, as much as we can, and just keep it going to make sure that the Ukrainians can continue to defend themselves," the Pentagon spokesman added.

Late last week, Kirby announced that the US Department of Defense [DoD] would allocate another $300 million in military aid to Ukraine. "Through USAI [Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative], DoD will provide up to $300 million in security assistance to bolster Ukraine's capacity to defend itself," he noted.

In a separate statement earlier in the day, the Pentagon spokesman announced that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznik American military support for Ukraine. "Secretary Austin highlighted the recently announced $300 million Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, bringing the total US security assistance commitment to more than $1.6 billion…"

Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years."

The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories and the operation was aimed at demilitarizing and denazifying Ukraine.

When clarifying the developments unfolding, the Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. There are no threats whatsoever to the civilian population.