WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden pledged a new $625 million security assistance package to Ukraine on Tuesday, prompting a warning from Moscow that it move risked a direct military clash between Russia and the West.
The US package would include launchers for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) used in Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive that recently forced Russian troops to withdraw.
In a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden stressed that Washington would never recognize Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory, the White House said in a statement.
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Biden “pledged to continue to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression for as long as it takes,” he added.
The aid package is the first since Russia’s most recent declared annexation of Ukrainian territory and the second Presidential Reduction Authority (PDA) since Ukraine’s major battlefield gains in mid-September .
In a strongly worded response, Russia’s envoy to the United States warned that Biden’s offer fueled the danger of a direct military clash between Russia and the West.
On the Telegram messaging app, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov urged Washington to stop “provocative actions” that could have “serious consequences.”
“We perceive this as an immediate threat to our country’s strategic interests,” he said.
The flags of the United States and Ukraine are displayed before the start of the Ukraine Defense Advisory Group meeting hosted by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The annexations announced by Russia last week followed what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv said the votes violated international law and were coercive and unrepresentative.
The State Department said in a statement that the package includes four HIMARS launchers and associated rockets, 32 howitzers with 75,000 rounds of ammunition, 200 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and Claymore anti-personnel mines.
Made by Lockheed Martin Corp ( LMT.N ), the accuracy and longer range of the HIMARS launchers have allowed Kyiv to reduce Russia’s artillery advantage.
“The recent events of Russia’s mock referendums and attempts at annexation and further revelations of brutality against civilians in previously Russian-held Ukrainian territory only strengthen our resolve,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement.
Last week, the United States unveiled a $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine, which included 18 HIMARS launch systems, escort munitions, various types of drone systems and radar systems.
But last week’s aid package was funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning the government must buy the weapons from the industry, rather than take them out those of US weapons stockpiles.
The US has now committed to 20 HIMARS launchers in Ukraine via PDA.
The announcement would mark more than $16.8 billion in US security aid since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
(This story has been rewritten to correct punctuation in paragraphs 3 and 8)
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Reporting by Nandita Bose and Mike Stone in Washington; Additional reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bangalore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Clarence Fernandez
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