Russia warns of ‘direct military clash’ with West as US boosts weapons aid to Ukraine
- New US$625 million security assistance package to Ukraine includes rocket launchers, artillery and ammunition
- Ukraine has taken back dozens of towns in regions in the south and east that Russia has declared annexed
The United States announced more weapons for Ukraine’s army, prompting a warning from Moscow that such a move risked a direct military clash between Russia and the West.
Washington’s promised US$625 million security assistance package came as Kyiv claimed sweeping gains along two major battlefronts in an offensive rush to beat the arrival of fresh Russian troops and the looming winter.
The White House said it was shipping four more HIMARS precision rocket launchers, 32 artillery pieces, 75,000 artillery rounds and 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition to Ukraine as Russian fighters were back-pedalling from Kyiv’s attack.
“This package will provide Ukrainian armed forces with additional capabilities and munitions that it needs to maintain momentum in the east and in the south,” said Laura Cooper, the Pentagon’s top official for Russia and Ukraine.
“We’re looking very closely at their consumption rates for ammunition, to make sure that they have what they need for the counteroffensive.”
This announcement would mark more than US$16.8 billion worth of US security assistance since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24