The United States will announce this week that it is sending Ukraine an advanced air defense system, U.S. officials said on Monday, ramping up President Biden’s pledge to give the country the military equipment it needs to defend against Russian aggression.
Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, told reporters at the G7 summit that the United States intended "to finalize a package that includes advanced medium- and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians", but did not provide further details on any specific system, The New York Times has reported.
He said the package would include "some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counter battery radar systems".
The Biden administration will buy Ukraine a NASAMS system - an advanced, medium-to-long-range surface-to-air missile defense system - that will allow Ukraine to defend its forces from greater distances, an official familiar with the decision said.
The United States will announce the decision this week, according to US officials.
The equipment will be paid for from the emergency funding that Congress passed to assist Ukraine, the official said.