The first shipment of a $ 200 million US security support package to Ukraine has reached Kyiv, the US ambassador said on Saturday.
The delivery follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kyiv this week amid concerns from Kyiv and its Western allies about tens of thousands of Russian troops gathered at the border with Ukraine. Russia denies planning a new military operation.
Washington approved a $ 200 million military Army package in December.
"The United States will continue to provide such assistance in support of the Ukrainian Army in its ongoing efforts to protect the Ukrainian sovereignty, freedom and local integrity from Russian violence," he said on Facebook.
Ukraine's Defense Minister thanked the United States for the assistance and biden administration .
Meanwhile, the Baltic provinces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will send US anti-aircraft tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, Blinken said Washington fully agreed.
"I have accelerated and authorized and fully allow the transfer of NATO Allies to Estonia Latvia Lithuania is providing Ukraine to strengthen its defensive capabilities in Russia's unrepentant and innocent country," he wrote on Twitter.
"We salute them for NATO and US their long-term support for Ukraine."
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, earlier this week described the Western arms purchases in Ukraine as "extremely dangerous" and said "they are doing nothing to reduce tensions".
The West has rejected Moscow's main demands - promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be used near Russia's borders, and that it will withdraw its troops from Eastern and Central Europe.
A meeting between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday ended without success.
'US'
In a joint statement issued late Friday, the defense ministers of the three Baltic states said they were "united in our commitment to the Ukrainian sovereignty and local integrity in the face of ongoing Russian violence".
They said Estonia would supply Ukraine with weapons against the Javelin tank, while Latvia and Lithuania were sending missiles of Stinger aircraft and other related items to strengthen Kyiv's defense force.
“Today Ukraine is at the forefront of dividing Europe and the military conflict with Russia. Let's face it - the Ukrainian war continues and it is important to support Ukraine in every way so that they can stand up to the perpetrator, "said Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet.
It is not yet clear when the weapons and equipment will be shipped to Ukraine.
The Russian worker carried ammunition during a military exercise at the Molkino training ground in the Krasnodar region of Russia.
In a separate development, Estonia is seeking German approval to export Howitzers from the Soviet Union, formerly East Germany, Ukraine. Estonia acquired Howitzers from non-NATO members in Finland, who had bought them from German military remnants in the 1990's.
The German government said on Friday it was considering Estonia's request to transfer the Howitzers to Ukraine but did not give a timetable for the decision.