US to provide controversial depleted uranium weapons to Ukraine

The United States says it is sending depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev, despite global concerns about serious health problems caused by such ammunition.

Washington said on Wednesday the controversial ammunitions are part of a new security assistance package worth up to $175 million.

The package also includes anti-tank missiles, artillery and mortar rounds, tactical air navigation systems, and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

The new military assistance is part of more than one billion dollars in overall aid announced for Ukraine during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Wednesday visit to Kiev.

The US aid also includes over $665 million in new military and civilian security assistance and millions of dollars in support for Ukraine's air defenses and other areas.

The US promise of depleted uranium rounds comes about two months after Washington said it would provide cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Kiev has already received more than $43 billion from the US in the form of weapons systems like howitzers and millions of rounds of ammunition, including widely-banned cluster munitions, since February 2022 when Russia started a "special operation" in Ukraine.

A number of Republican presidential hopefuls have questioned the US aid to Ukraine, fuelling concerns over whether Washington will still support Kiev at the same level once the US 2024 election campaign intensifies.

ME