(Reuters) – A U.S. commitment to supply Kyiv with Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the first time is exactly what Ukraine needs, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address on Friday.
Zelenskiy said the formal announcement showed his visit to Washington last month had produced concrete results. The weapons are part of a new $3 billion U.S. weapons aid package for Ukraine that is set to be announced later on Friday.
“For the first time we will receive Bradley armoured vehicles – this is exactly what is needed,” Zelenskiy said, thanking U.S. President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress.
Zelenskiy – who has been pressing allies relentlessly to send more weapons – also thanked Germany, which will send Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles and a Patriot air-defence.
“So, as of now, there are more air defence systems, more armoured vehicles, western tanks – which is a first – more cannons and shells … and all this means more protection for Ukrainians and all Europeans against any kind of Russian terror,” he said.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
