The U.S. announced on the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine War that it will mark the occasion by sending Kyiv another $2 billion in weapons to keep bloodying the killing fields to weaken Russia. 

The package will include ammunition, drones, counter-drone systems, and other weapons. The Wall Street Journal noted that the new funding will not include a withdrawal from U.S. stockpiles, but will instead be procured by the U.S. 

The funding will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which means it will likely take months to deliver due to contracts and manufacturing.

The latest “security” package brings the U.S. total since the war began to more than $32 billion and the newest package includes upgraded Switchblade 600 Kamikaze drones, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, laser-guided rocket systems, and artillery rounds.

The Associated Press noted that the Pentagon made an “unusual move” and did not provide any details on just how many rounds of ammunition will be provided.  

Besides the military support, the Biden administration hopes to hurt Moscow economically and issued new sanctions against Russia. About 90 Russian companies will also face new export restrictions and President Joe Biden vowed to raise tariffs on imports from Russia.

“The United States stands strongly with Ukraine as it defends itself, and we will continue to do so until Ukraine’s sovereignty is respected and the people of Ukraine can shape their chosen, democratic future in freedom and peace,” Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, said. 

The Pentagon said Washington’s support will continue and allies and partners will continue to provide Ukraine with “capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements for as long as it takes.”

TRENDPOST: The U.S. and European allies continue to sell the line that it will be up to Kyiv to make the decision on when it is ready to sit and negotiate to end the conflict with Russia and has insisted that it will not give up an inch of territory gained in the conflict. 

Gerald Celente said the U.S. and West are not waging a “proxy war” with the Russian Federation, but are engaged in WWIII. (See “TOP TREND 2023, WWIII.”)

Moscow has warned Western countries that they will not be able to provide Ukraine with weapons to destroy Russian troops while sitting the conflict out. Russia has said it is willing to negotiate for peace, but will not consider ceding any territory it gained.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of carrying out a “total hybrid war” and putting the two countries on a direct path to a confrontation over its historic support for Ukraine to weaken Russia.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the U.S.’s military support for Ukraine has brought on an unprecedented crisis that resulted in no room for diplomacy. Besides the billions in weapons, the U.S. trains Ukrainian troops, provides Kyiv with live intelligence updates, and has special forces on the ground. (See “WWIII TAKING SHAPE: NATO VS. CHINA, RUSSIA, IRAN” 21 Feb 2023, “PUTIN: NATO/U.S. AT WAR WITH RUSSIA” 21 Feb 2023 and, “ZELENSKY SAID HE REFUSED TO HONOR MINSK PEACE ACCORD WITH RUSSIA” 14 Feb 2023.)