US prepares $2.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine including long-range missiles

Washington is preparing a $2.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that could include long-range missiles for the first time, two unnamed US officials said.

“The United States is preparing a $2.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that is expected to include long-range missiles and other weapons and ammunition for the first time,” Reuters quoted US officials as saying.

According to Reuters, the new military aid package could include the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), which adds a rocket motor to an airborne bomb and is adapted for launch by the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. Developers claim that the range of such precision-guided munitions exceeds 150km.

Photo: AP

In total, the US has provided more than $27.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the administration of President Joe Biden took office.

Greek Prime Minister Says He Will Not Supply Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a visit to Japan that his country will not supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis made the statement in an interview with Nikkei Asia, a reporter for Greek television station ERT reported from Tokyo.

“We have provided significant military assistance to Ukraine, such as armored infantry vehicles, but we will not provide Leopard 2 tanks for the simple reason that they are absolutely necessary for the defense strategy. We want to support Ukraine, but not at the expense of defense capabilities,” said Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

Greece was one of the first countries to send weapons to Ukraine on February 27, 2022, a few days after the start of Russia's special military operation, sending 40 tons of equipment via Poland on two C-130 aircraft. Later, Greece also sent new batches of weapons and military equipment.