WASHINGTON, Jan 6 United States donates self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine for the first time Paladin to increase their mobility on the battlefield, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper said at a briefing.
«The package (of military aid to Kyiv — ed.) largely consists of artillery assets. Among them are 18 self-propelled 155-mm howitzers, known as the Paladin system,» Cooper said.
According to her, such systems are being transferred for the first time, and they should provide «greater protection and maneuverability than previously provided (to Kyiv — ed.) towed howitzers.»
As Cooper pointed out, the US is also providing an additional 36 105mm towed howitzers.
Earlier, Russia sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation stated that the NATO countries are «playing with fire» by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.