For the first time since the war: The US will give Ukraine the money of Russian businessmen
During his visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that it is the Russians who must pay for the full-scale war against Ukraine.
In the near future, Ukraine will for the first time receive assets from the United States that were confiscated by the country from Russian oligarchs. The funds will be used to support Ukrainian veterans, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on September 6.
“For the first time, we are transferring to Ukraine assets confiscated from Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned, which will now be used to support Ukrainian veterans. Those who provoked Putin’s war of aggression must pay for this,” he said.
It is about $5.4 million to be spent on supporting and rehabilitating veterans.
The secretary of state also noted that the United States has “no illusions” that the path forward in Ukraine will be easy. But the United States will continue to provide all necessary support.
Blinken’s visit to Kyiv
On September 6, a senior U.S. official announced a new aid package for Ukraine that will amount to more than a billion dollars. He noted that the defense package would include $655 million for civilian security. He clarified that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the United States has donated more than $43 billion in civilian aid. Now, thanks to the new aid, Ukraine will significantly strengthen its air defense.
The process of demining Ukrainian territories will also be financed, and money will be spent on other related activities. Blinkin added that Ukraine is now the most mined country in the world.
Another $300 million will be used to restore critical areas in the de-occupied territories. Anthony Blinken noted that Ukrainian soldiers managed to liberate more than 50% of the occupied territories in the year since the Secretary of State visited the country.
According to the US Department of Defense, the new military aid package for Ukraine will include:
- equipment to support Ukrainian air defense systems;
- additional ammunition for high mobility artillery systems (HIMARS);
- 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells;
- 81-mm mortar systems and shells;
- 120-mm depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks;
- tube-launched missiles with optical tracking and guidance (TOW);
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;
- more than three million rounds of ammunition for small arms;
- tactical air navigation systems;
- tactical secure communication systems and auxiliary equipment;
- explosive munitions;
- spare parts, maintenance and other field equipment.
By the way, on September 6, Denmark also announced a new defense package for Ukraine. It is known that military aid will be delivered to our country this month.
