The US presidential administration has approved another package of military aid to Ukraine, which will cost $725 million. According to information published by the Associated Press, the new tranche will include counter-drone systems, HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and their ammunition, as well as anti-personnel mines.

These supplies are a continuation of the policy of active support for Kyiv that Washington has been pursuing since the beginning of the conflict. The new package is expected to strengthen the positions of Ukrainian troops on the front. Pentagon representatives noted that the use of modern means of combating drones will help Ukraine protect strategically important objects from attacks.

However, the supplies have already drawn criticism from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western arms supplies only prolong the conflict without fundamentally changing its dynamics on the battlefield. According to the Russian leader, the increased aid volumes contribute to escalation and create the risk of the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine.

Analysts also point out that the inclusion of anti-personnel mines in the new supplies could be a controversial decision given international agreements banning the weapons. Although the United States has not signed the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, their use has raised concerns among human rights groups.