US export control regulations require approval from the State Department for the countries before transferring any weapons received from the US to third parties. These approvals would allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles, while Lithuania will be cleared to send Stinger missiles, according to one of the sources cited by Reuters.
Earlier, on 21 December 2021, defense ministers of the Baltic states — Arvydas Anušauskas of Lithuania, Artis Pabriks of Latvia, and Kalle Laanet of Estonia — said that their countries were ready to provide Ukraine with assistance, both non-military and military. They also called for NATO to take additional steps to deter Russia.
Also, another State Dept official confirmed on 19 January that the US has approved the $200 million weapons package for Ukraine, which includes more Javelin missiles, ammunition, radar systems, and medical equipment, according to AP. Unofficial reports on the Biden Administration’s approval of a $200 million military aid for Ukraine circulated in mid-January, however, it is unclear whether AP reports on the same decision or a new one.
Germany blocks Ukraine’s arms purchase from NATO as unofficial arms embargo on Ukraine continues
On 19 January, US President Joe Biden said at a news conference that Russia will pay a “dear price” if it invades Ukraine.
On the same day while on his visit to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Kyiv,
“Now, more than ever, everything depends on Ukrainians and no one else – to decide their future and the future of this country,” he said naming 100,000 Russian soldiers near Ukraine’s borders “an unprecedented threat to Ukraine,” and confirming that Russia can attack at any moment.
And two days earlier, on 17 January, Britain announced its supplies of anti-tank systems to Ukraine and delivered the first batches of the weapons on the same day.
What we know about the “light anti-tank weapons” UK started supplying to Ukraine
Read more:
- Ukrainians ask to personally join NATO, offer private land for NATO base
- Daily review: Poroshenko goes to court; UK weapons come to Ukraine; removing Russia from SWIFT off the table
- NLAW was the light anti-tank system UK supplied to Ukraine
- Russia-West talks have ended in uncertainty. Now it’s time to act.
- Germany blocks Ukraine’s arms purchase from NATO as unofficial arms embargo on Ukraine continues
- Lithuania will never abandon Ukraine, volunteer helping Ukrainian army says
- Four ways NATO can help Ukraine resist Russian aggression
- Amidst Russia’s loud sabre-rattling, US delivers military hardware to Ukraine
