US fast-tracks £112m air defense package for Ukraine amid House standoff

The US Department of State has approved the purchase of air defense equipment for Ukraine, which is valued at approximately £112 million, reports Bloomberg. This is emergency aid in response to the shelling of Ukrainian cities. A broad aid package is still blocked in the House of Representatives.

A broad aid package for Ukraine is still awaiting a vote in the US House of Representatives. It is being blocked by Republicans, who were influenced by the former President Donald Trump, who called for its rejection.

In emergency mode, the US Department of State has approved the purchase of air defence equipment for Ukraine at a value of approximately £112 million - informs Bloomberg.

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, explained that there was an extraordinary situation requiring the immediate sale of equipment, services, and training related to the Hawk Phase III missile system from RTX Corp.

The administration of President Joe Biden has repeatedly appealed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, to allow a vote on the combined package of financial measures that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. However, Johnson has so far refused, Bloomberg reports.

The US Central Command reported that the US government had provided the Ukrainian armed forces with thousands of confiscated weapons that Iran intended to send to the Houthi fighters in Yemen.