Russia-Ukraine war: US to send $400 million in military aid to Ukraine

U.S. will send anor $400 million in military equipment to Ukraine , including four more vanced rocket systems, a senior defense official said Friday, in an effort to bolster Ukrainian efforts to strike deeper behind Russian frontlines in eastern Donbas region.

aid comes as Moscow this week claimed full control of Ukraine's Luhansk province in Donbas, but Ukrainian officials say ir troops still control a small part of province and fierce fighting continues in several villages.

defense official said that eight High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, that were previously sent are still being used by Ukraine forces in fight. And this will give m four more to help hit Russian command and control nodes, logistics capabilities and or systems that are furr back behind battlefront. official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet me public.

Russia in recent days has launched dozens of missiles across Ukraine and pinned down Ukrainian forces with continuous long-range fire for sometimes hours at a time. Ukraine’s leers have publicly called on Western allies to quickly send more ammunition and vanced systems that will help m narrow gap in equipment and manpower. precision weapons can help Ukraine hit Russian weapons that are farr away and are being used to bombard Ukrainian locations.

latest aid is 15th package of military weapons and equipment transferred to Ukraine from Defense Department stocks since last August. In dition to HIMARS, U.S. will also send 1,000 rounds of 155 millimeter artillery which has an increased precision capability that also will help Ukraine hit specific targets. package also will include three tactical vehicles, counter battery rar systems, spare parts and or equipment.

Looking ahe to coming months, official said that a key goal is to build up Ukraine's logistics and repair capabilities so troops can maintain its weapons systems and continue fight into future.

Overall, U.S. has sent about $7.3 billion in aid to Ukraine since war began in late February.

Luhansk is one of two provinces that make up Donbas, a region of mines and factories where pro-Moscow separatists have fought Ukraine’s army for eight years and declared independent republics that Russian President Vlimir Putin recognized before he sent troops into Ukraine.

Putin on Thursday warned that Kyiv should accept Moscow’s terms or brace for worst, saying that Russia hasn't yet “started anything in earnest.”

U.S. and or western officials have said that Russia has been making slow, incremental progress in Donbas but has not me gains as rapidly as Moscow initially intended. President Joe Biden has said that U.S. is giving Ukrainians aid needed to continue to resist Russian aggression.

"I don’t know how it’s going to end, but it will not end with a Russian defeat of Ukraine in Ukraine,” Biden said last week.