President Biden approved the transfer of $300 million worth of weapons to Ukraine from US stockpiles on Wednesday, as Kyiv prepared for its long-anticipated offensive against Russia.

According to the Pentagon, this package will include HIMARS rockets in addition to an unknown number of 155mm Howitzers with accompanying Artillery, mortar rounds, tube-launched TOW Missiles as well as small arms and ammunition.

The US also sends Hydra-70 aircraft missiles that are launched from airborne.

The previous packages primarily included ground-launched weapons as Russia and Ukraine continue to fight for air superiority, more than 14 month after the Russian invasion.

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The first package has been sent since highly classified Pentagon documents were leaked last week, revealing that in February 28, officials from the intelligence community predicted Ukraine’s air defence forces would be exhausted by May 23, without any further reinforcement.

The Pentagon released a statement that said the package includes non-offensive equipment such as trucks, trailers and diagnostic equipment for vehicle repair and maintenance. It also contains demolition munitions to clear obstacles and “other field equipment and spare parts.”

In the next few days, Kyiv will launch a new counter-offensive to liberate Ukrainian territories that Russia claims.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said that the most intense fighting has recently been concentrated in Bakhmut where Russian forces made “incremental progress”.

Kirby stated that “[Bakhmut] has very little strategic importance for Russia.”

The capture of Bakhmut will not change the outcome of the war for Russia, and Ukraine’s defences in the area surrounding Bakhmut remain strong.

Throughout the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv wanted to reclaim the entire eastern Donbass region as well the Crimea which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

The package sent on Wednesday is the 37th that the Biden administration has sent from Pentagon stock to Ukraine.

As the fighting slowed down, the frequency of aid dropped over the winter. The defense industry continued to replenish US stocks.

All but $700 million of the $36.4 billion sent to Ukraine by Washington since President Biden’s appointment was sent in response to Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2021.

In a press release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the latest package would “help Ukraine continue to defend itself bravely in the face Russia’s brutal and unjustified conflict.”

Blinken stated that “Russia could end their war today”.

“Until Russia acts, the United States, our allies, and partners will remain united with Ukraine for as long as necessary.”