MOSCOW, Jan 20 US officials urge Ukraine for now to refrain from an offensive operation against Russia until a new package of declared aid is received and the Ukrainian military is trained, Reuters reports, citing a US administration official.
The official also added that at the moment Washington is firmly adhering to its decision not to transfer Abrams tanks to Kyiv amid a contentious situation with Berlin over the supply of this type of weapon.
The United States has already sent more than $26 billion in aid to Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, including HIMARS MLRS, NASAMS air defense systems, Javelin anti-tank systems, off-road vehicles, helicopters, ammunition, etc. The latest package, announced on January 19, is valued at $2.5 billion and includes munitions for NASAMS air defense systems, Eight Avenger air defense systems, 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers. On Friday, the Pentagon said the new package would also include NASAMS air defense systems.
Earlier, Russia sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will 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 noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.