The increase in military assistance to Kiev comes amid increased tensions over Ukraine and claims by the United States and its European allies that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that the mission had requesting an open UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation on Ukraine’s border and said she looks forward to a direct and purposeful discussions on Monday.
“Today, after weeks of close consultation with Ukraine and partners on the Security Council, the United States called an open meeting of the Security Council to discuss a matter of crucial importance to international peace and security: Russia’s threatening behaviour against Ukraine and the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders and in Belarus,” Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Thursday. “The Council’s full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday.”
Meanwhile, the Defence Department spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday that the United States was trying to speed up its deliveries of the $200 million worth of security assistance approved for Ukraine in December.
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“We are just at the beginning of a whole new package of assistance material,” Kirby said during a press briefing. “There’s been three shipments, there are more that will be coming, we’re trying to see if we can accelerate them.” Kirby declined to reveal what is in every shipment but said it includes lethal and non-lethal assistance designed to help Ukraine defend itself.
Ukraine received the first shipments of the US security aid earlier this week, which included Javelin anti-tank missiles.
The increase in military assistance to Kiev comes amid increased tensions over Ukraine and claims by the United States and its European allies that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the West’s claims, saying it has no plans to attack any country. In addition, Russia has warned that NATO’s actions near its borders represent a national security threat and it reserves the right to move troops within its own sovereign territory. (ANI/Sputnik)