As he said during a meeting with Austin, the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of National Defense, the US will announce the package “soon”, and it will include additional missiles and other key types of munitions for the Patriots and other air defense systems. . The package will be one of the most expensive ever announced. Austin announced that equipment delivery would take place on an “accelerated schedule.”
In addition to the preconditions and aid for Ukraine, Austin, Umerov and the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, also discussed next week’s NATO summit in Washington and a “bridge” to Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. As Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder put it, the “bridge” will, among other things, prepare the Ukrainian military for participation in NATO by increasing long-term capabilities and interoperability with allies.
Ryder also announced that Ukraine will receive its first F-16 fighter jets this summer, and some Ukrainian pilots have already completed their first phase of training in the U.S. and are continuing it in Europe.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian delegation led by Yermak also met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.