US sends more weapons to Ukraine amid Russian concerns

CAIRO- June 1, 2022: US President Joe Biden vowed on Tuesday to provide Ukraine with “more advanced rocket systems”, according to Russia Today.

Biden said in an article published in the New York Times that his country is planning to send long-range weapons to Kyiv after the latter promised not to target Russian territories.

White House officials said that the Ukrainian government gave assurances that no long-range weapons will be used against Russia.

The American military shipment announced on Wednesday - estimated at $700 million - includes M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HMARS), Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile systems, radars, and ammunition.

The US Senate previously passed a bill to provide Ukraine with an aid package worth $40 billion, which was signed last month by President Biden.

Biden asserted in his New York Times article that his country does not seek a war between Russia and NATO, nor does it seek to oust Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders. We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia,” wrote Biden.

However, Biden vowed to impose more sanctions against Moscow, describing them as “the toughest imposed on a major economy.”

On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described in press statements in April the Western weapons as “legitimate targets”, adding that his country successfully destroyed warehouses where Western weapons were stored.

Commenting on the US decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press conference on Wednesday that Ukraine cannot be trusted to honor its pledge to the US and not use these weapons against Russian territories.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also said in press statements that his country will send more weapons to Kyiv in coordination with the neighboring Netherlands.

Russia invaded Ukraine in late February after accusing Kyiv of failing to implement the terms of the Minsk agreement signed in 2014.