US approves $2.68 billion air defense sale to Ukraine

The US State Department has approved a possible sale of air defense systems to Ukraine worth $2.68 billion (roughly 57 billion crowns). The American foreign policy agency said the purchase could be financed through European contributions and the US grant-and-loan program FMF.

In this case, spending under the FMF program would count as America's contribution to the reconstruction and investment fund — an entity Washington and Kyiv agreed to establish when signing their deal on Ukrainian mineral resources.

What exactly Ukraine is asking for

Ukraine, which has been repelling Russia's invasion since February 2022, has long been pushing for shipments of ammunition for its air defense systems. According to the US State Department, Kyiv has requested, among other things, new missiles for S-300 systems, GAM-67 munitions, extended-range laser-guided air defense missiles, mobile launchers, and RPS 202 radars for countering drones.

The Defense Express outlet notes that the S-300 missiles in question are not copies of Soviet- or Russian-made munitions, but new-generation weapons with modern guidance systems and improved performance, designed for the S-300 systems Ukraine already operates. According to the same source, the GAM-67 missiles are also a new development — a medium-range munition that could serve as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative for anti-aircraft and air defense systems.

The deal still needs Congressional approval

News of the approval for the arms sale, which still requires sign-off from the US Congress, was released by the US Department of Defense on the same day President Donald Trump signed a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia. The package is meant to increase pressure on Moscow and help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The sanctions package has been described as the political legacy of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, shortly after his last visit to Ukraine.

Source: seznamzpravy.cz