The U.S. State Department has approved a sale of military equipment to Ukraine that includes 150 anti-tank missiles to help fight Russia-backed separatists.
A Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice says the $39.2 million sale includes 10 launch units for the Javelin missiles and related equipment.
The agency announced the sale on October 3 after notifying the Congress, where the leadership gave initial approval earlier this week.
President Donald Trump earlier this year delayed nearly $400 in aid to Ukraine as he sought to press the country’s President to investigate the son of former Vice-President Joe Biden.
This sale is not part of that aid package.
The U.S. has been providing assistance to Ukraine since Russia-backed separatists invaded in 2014 following the ouster of a Kremlin-backed leader in an Eastern European country that was once part of the Soviet Union.
Air Force General Tod Wolters, the Supreme Allied Commander, told Pentagon reporters on October 3 that he believes that the U.S. should send more Javelins to Ukraine beyond those already in the pipeline.
He said the Javelins, which are manufactured in a joint venture by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and the military training teams that deploy with them allow Ukraine to better protect itself.
