Lviv, Ukraine, Jan 20 (EFE).- Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday thanked the US for a new $2.5 billion defense aid package as Nato and its allies were due to meet to coordinate arms supplies to Kyiv.

“Thank you Potus for providing Ukraine with another powerful defense support package worth $2.5 billion,” Zelenskyy said on Twitter.

Some 50 nations are expected to coordinate the deployment of more arms to Ukraine

The US Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed it would be sending 59 armored Bradley tanks with 590 TOW anti-tank missiles and 295,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition.

The aid package includes eight avenger air defense systems, 350 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, 20,000 155mm artillery rounds and 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) with 20 mine rollers, among others, according to a DoD statement.

The announcement comes ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting which takes place at the Ramstein Air Base in western Germany on Friday.

Defense leaders of some 50 nations are expected to coordinate the deployment of more arms to Ukraine at the crunch talks.
A decision on whether Leopard 2 battle tanks will be sent to Kyiv is also expected after Berlin faced growing pressure from western allies to send German-made battle tanks to Ukraine or approve the transfer of the tanks from other countries. EFE
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