The opening of a new front in Kharkiv mobilizes the West. The US announces a new military aid package for Ukraine

United States approves $400 million military aid package for Ukraine as US returns to normal pace of arms supplies to Kiev after passage in Congress of a military aid package of more than 60 billion dollarsa US official told Reuters on Friday.

UPDATE US President Joe Biden approved $400 million in military aid

The aid package for Ukraine includes artillery, munitions for the NASAMS anti-aircraft system, anti-tank munitions, armored vehicles and small arms that can be used immediately on the battlefield, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The aid will use the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which authorizes the president to transfer arms and services from US stockpiles without specific approval from the US Congress during an emergency.

The announcement of new aid is expected as early as Friday and comes after Russian forces tried to enter Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region in armored vehicles on Friday and heavily shelled the area, Kiev said, the strongest signal of so far that Moscow is trying to open a new front in the war that started more than two years ago.

Ukraine repelled the armored attack, but fighting in border areas in the Kharkiv region continued and Kiev sent more forces to the area as reinforcements, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“Around 5 am, there was an attempt by the enemy to break through our defensive line with armored vehicles,” the ministry said. “For now, these attacks have been repelled; fighting of varying intensity continues”.

A source within the Ukrainian military command said that Russia was looking to create a “buffer zone” to prevent Ukraine from striking Russia’s Belgorod region.

As replenishment funds for stockpile items are deployed, US defense companies would win more contracts as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

Experts expect an increase in orders for RTX RTX.N, along with other major companies receiving government contracts such as Lockheed Martin LMT.N, General Dynamics GD.N and Northrop Grumman NOC.N.

On April 26, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the largest ever, as Washington tries to make up for a delay in supplies to Kiev after months of deadlock in the US Congress.

It included anti-aircraft defense, anti-drone systems, artillery ammunition.

It was the second round of aid announced that week.

For its part, the German Foreign Ministry asked the West on Friday to “ensure support” for Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive in Kharkiv, reports AFP.

“The residents of Kharkiv continue to bravely resist Russia’s constant bombardment. Your courage demands our solidarity. Together with our partners, we stand by Ukraine and must provide the necessary support for its defense,” the ministry writes on X.

Canadian aid

Canada will contribute C$76 million ($55.7 million) to a German-led initiative that aims to rapidly supply and deliver air defense systems to Ukraine to ward off Russian attacks, Defense Minister Bill Blair.

Blair made the announcement during a visit by his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. Berlin launched the initiative last month, citing increasing Russian attacks.

“These systems will help defend against Russian airstrikes that have killed thousands of Ukrainians and destroyed hospitals, power plants and apartment blocks,” Blair said.

Ukraine is set to receive the F-16 possibly next month

Kiev expects to receive its first F-16 fighter jets from its Western allies in June-July, a senior Ukrainian military source said on Friday.

Ukraine has sought US-made F-16 fighter jets to help counter Russian air superiority for more than two years of war. The source did not say which country would supply the planes.

So far, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium have committed to sending F-16s to Ukraine.

Illya Yevlash, an air force spokesman, said this week that some Ukrainian pilots are completing their training to fly warplanes.