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The United States pledged to provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth $400 million, including the refurbishment of T-72 tanks and Hawk air defense missiles, and the Netherlands announced that it would provide Kyiv with tanks and other weapons worth 120 million euros.
Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the United States will pay for 45 T-72 tanks from the Czech Republic that will be refurbished, and will provide funding for the refurbishment of some Hawk air defense missiles.
She added that, in addition to the $400 million Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative funds, which will be used to refurbish Czech Soviet-era tanks. There is also funding for the purchase of 1,100 Phoenix Ghost tactical air systems and 40 armored river boats, among other capabilities.
In total, 90 tanks from third parties and private stocks will be modernized, Czech Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Kupicny told Reuters. American money will fund 45 of them, or half of the fleet.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Ukraine “is in desperate need” of equipment for its air defenses at the “critical moment” when Russia is carrying out massive strikes on its energy sites.
“We are aware of the great need for air defense systems at this critical time when Russia and Russian forces are raining missiles on the country’s civilian infrastructure,” he told a news conference at the Ukrainian presidential residence in Kyiv. Sullivan made an unexpected visit to Kiev on Friday, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov to express, according to the White House, Washington’s “unwavering support” in the face of Russian forces.
“The most important thing I’ve come to say today is that the United States will be on Ukraine’s side no matter how long this fight lasts,” Sullivan told reporters in Kyiv. Our support will not wane or weaken.”
For its part, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said that it will provide Ukraine with tanks and other heavy military equipment, with a total value of 120 million euros (119 million dollars). The Netherlands said it would spend 45 million euros, along with its cooperation with the United States and the Czech Republic, on a shipment of 90 Czech T-72 tanks to be upgraded.
