While it was considered an escalation risk a few short weeks ago, the U.S. is blowing caution to the wind, equipping Kyiv with high-power weapons, according to the Biden administration.
President Joe Biden has unveiled an $800 million weapons package that will make its way to the hands of Ukrainians fighting to protect their country, CNN reported.
The package fulfills the requests from Ukraine and prepares them for a new type of fight on the open plains of southeast Ukraine close to its border with Russia.
U.S. officials have warned that the war in Ukraine is changing, and this new weapons package is a sign that things may be getting worse following failures from Russia throughout the last month plus.
Weapons heading to Ukraine include 18 155 mm Howitzer cannons, 300 Switchblade drones, a radar system capable of tracking incoming fire and pinpointing its origin, and 11 Mi-17 helicopters rerouted from Afghanistan.
This will be the first package that includes this level of heavy-duty weaponry. CNN reported that a U.S. official said it's by design due to Russia shifting its strategy to focus attacks on eastern Ukraine.
"The contours of what they need is very different," the U.S. official said.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that the types of attacks Ukraine will face from Russia in the eastern part of the country are different. This shipment will help them be better suited to defend themselves.
"It's a little bit flatter. It's a little bit more open. And it's the kind of place where we can anticipate that the Russians will want to use tanks and long-range fires, artillery and rocket fire to achieve some of their objectives before committing ground troops," Kirby said.
Biden informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy of the decision during an hour phone call on Wednesday after several defense officials from both countries went over Ukraine's requests.
According to CNN, Zelenskyy had explicitly asked for the Mi-17 helicopters, and Biden added them last minute when he said Ukraine needed them.
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