Ukraine war: US approves potential US$2.7 billion sale of air defence equipment

The United States has approved a potential US$2.68 billion sale of air defence equipment to Ukraine, after Kyiv made repeated pleas for support to fend off Russian attacks.The State Department said in a congressional notification on Friday that it made “a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine” for buying air defence development upgrades and related equipment and services.If the proposed purchase is concluded, Ukraine would finance it using a combination of European contributions and US Foreign Military Financing appropriated during the prior AdministrationUS State DepartmentKyiv has requested to buy equipment including multiple types of missiles, launchers and counter-drone radars, according to the State Department.The proposed sale is subject to congressional review.“If the proposed purchase is concluded, Ukraine would finance it using a combination of European contributions and US Foreign Military Financing appropriated during the prior Administration,” the State Department said.“The estimated total cost is US$2.68 billion.”Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump pose for a photo in Washington in July. Photo: Handout via Ukrainian Press Service/AFPUkraine’s capital Kyiv has seen a surge in Russian attacks, which its air defences have struggled to repel due to ammunition shortages.Meanwhile, Russia’s response to new US sanctions should involve “military deterrence”, the country’s former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.