US to send Ukraine $725mn in new military aid

The US will ship to Ukraine $725 million more in military assistance, the country’s Departments of State and Defense have announced, citing Russia’s recent retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian targets.

In a statement on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tied the new weapons package to what he claimed to be “Russia’s brutal missile attacks on civilians across Ukraine” and “mounting evidence of atrocities by Russia's forces".

The latest aid includes more ammunition for the HIMARS rocket system and brings the total amount of American arms supplied to Ukraine by the Biden administration to more than 18.3 billion, the Pentagon declared in a separate statement.

Last Saturday, a truck exploded damaging Kerch Strait Bridge, which hosts road and rail links between Russia and Crimea. The blast set ablaze seven oil tankers transported by train and collapsed two car lanes of the giant road and rail structure.

Although Ukraine did not formally claim responsibility for the bridge bombing, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak declared the bombing was just “the beginning” of more attacks against Russian targets.

The Russian president described the blast as “a terrorist act” carried out by Ukrainian secret services aimed at destroying critical Russian civilian infrastructure.

On Monday, Russia’s military struck Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, with Putin warning of a “harsh” response in case of any further attacks such as the one on the Crimean Bridge.  

Saudi regime announces $400mn aid to Ukraine

Saudi Arabia also announced Saturday it will send to Ukraine “humanitarian aid” worth $400 million, according to the Persian Gulf kingdom’s official SPA news agency.

It noted that the country’s despotic Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered the aid package in a phone call to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to SPA, Salman also emphasized "the Kingdom's position of supporting everything that will contribute to de-escalation, and the Kingdom's readiness to continue the efforts of mediation."

The development came after the Saudi regime played an unexpected role last month in facilitating a prisoner-of-war swap between Ukraine and Russia.

The Ukraine conflict has, however, sparked tensions between the kingdom and its closest ally and chief sponsor, the United States, after Saudi Arabia largely resisted pressure to ramp up oil production to ease the energy crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Riyadh has been subjected to increasing condemnation by Washington after the Saudis did not use their influence to resist an agreement by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – in which the kingdom remains a key member – to drastically slash production, along Russia and other allies, which could send global energy prices surging even higher.

Moreover, Washington has accused OPEC+ of aligning itself with Moscow, and on Wednesday, President Joe Biden threatened "consequences" for Saudi Arabia.

MG