EKO HOT BLOG reports that Vladimir Putin is nearing a sobering milestone amid claims by Ukraine that the number of Russian troops killed since the start of his war is on the verge of passing 100,000.
Ukraine’s defence ministry posted its latest update of Russian losses since February 24, when Putin ordered his invasion.
In addition, Ukrainian armed forces claim to have destroyed more than 3,000 tanks, almost 6,000 armoured combat vehicles, and 282 military jets.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is to be provided with state-of-the-art military equipment, including a Patriot missile battery and precision-guided bombs for their fighter jets, as part of a $1.8billion (£1.5billion) US military aid package move which will doubtless be greeted with deep disquiet in Moscow.
The news broke as US President Joe Biden prepared to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington.
US officials have described details of the aid on condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced.
The aid signals a significant expansion by the US in the kinds of advanced weaponry it will send to Ukraine to bolster the country’s air defences against what has been an increasing barrage of Russian missile strikes.
The package, expected to be announced later today, will include about $1 billion in weapons from Pentagon stocks and another $800 million from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds weapons, ammunition, training, and other assistance, officials said.
Mr Zelensky and other Ukraine officials have pressed Western leaders to provide more advanced weapons, including the Patriots, to help their country in its war with Russia.
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