Aircraft and ammunition
“Without going into details of what other countries are providing specifically, Ukraine’s (armed forces) received additional aircraft and aircraft parts, which allowed them to take more aircraft into the air,” Kirby said at the briefing.
At the same time, he did not say which specific countries are supplying planes to Ukraine, but noted that it is not related to the United States.
“We’ve definitely made it easy to ship additional parts that help with aviation needs. But we didn’t send all the planes,” Kirby said.
According to a Pentagon spokesperson, Ukraine has “more operational fighter jets than two weeks ago.” He added that in this case we are talking about Russian-made aircraft.
In addition, Kirby said that the United States does not exclude that Ukraine may request additional weapons in the future.
“Of course it is possible that the Ukrainians will need additional artillery systems and artillery shells. We will keep in touch with them on this matter and will do our best to meet their demands.”
A Pentagon spokesman said that American howitzers will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming days.
“As for howitzers, I think you will see that they will be transferred very soon. As of today I can’t say anything about delivery, but I think you’ll see them get their ammunition very soon too… for ammunition,” Kirby said.
According to him, “if in the future there is a need for additional shells for 155 mm howitzers, the United States will be at the forefront and will do everything possible to deliver them.”
assistance on airplanes
On the eve of the Pentagon reported that seven aircraft providing military assistance to Ukraine will leave the United States in the near future.
“We expect more than a dozen flights over the next 24 hours, possibly as many as seven from the US to the region,” a senior Pentagon official quoted RIA Novosti as saying.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said four planes were dispatched with military aid from the United States over the weekend and another plane arrived on Monday.
On April 13, US President Joe Biden informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington is providing Ukraine with a new $800 million military aid package that will include artillery, armored personnel carriers and helicopters.
At that time, the Pentagon announced the delivery of 200 M113 armored personnel carriers, 18 NATO caliber 155 mm howitzers and 40,000 shells for them to the Ukrainian forces. In addition, the $800 million aid package included 11 Russian or Soviet-made Mi-17 helicopters, 300 Switch-mounted munitions, 100 armored jeeps, 500 Javelin missiles, and “thousands” of other anti-tank systems.
“I do not know”
After British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU diplomat Josep Borrell, as well as the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky, the media is waiting for an explanation as to who is who. senior US people will visit Kiev.
On April 14, before boarding the presidential plane in Maryland, Biden traditionally spoke briefly to reporters. He told them he was ready to go to Ukraine. But the previous night, he said he didn’t know if he was going to visit Kiev.
After the incident in New Hampshire, one of the journalists asked the American leader if he had agreed to fly to Kiev.
“Answer: I don’t know,” Biden said.
“I’ve been to Ukraine many times, I just haven’t been to recently,” he later said.
The American leader also reiterated that he has no intention of sending US troops to Ukraine. This was announced Monday by Jen Psaki.
“The president and his administration still have no plans to send troops to start a war with Russia, he does not believe it would be in the interests of international security or of the Americans,” a White House spokesman said.
Source: Gazeta
