World News: Kyiv to get advanced US rockets – Gulf Digital News

World News: Kyiv to get advanced US rockets – Gulf Digital News

KYIV: Russian forces fought their way into the centre of Ukraine’s industrial city of Sievierodonetsk yesterday, edging closer to claiming a big prize in their offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

But in a boost for Ukraine, locked in a grinding struggle against Russia’s invading army, the US announced a new $700 million weapons package for Kyiv which will include advanced rocket systems capable of hitting targets up to 80km away.

Moscow accused the US of adding “fuel to the fire”. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the supply of the rocket launchers raised the risk of a “third country” being dragged into the conflict.

Promise

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine promised it will not use the systems to hit targets inside Russia. US President Joe Biden hopes extending Ukraine’s artillery reach will help push Moscow to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fourth month.

After days of heavy fighting around Sievierodonetsk, much of which has been laid to waste by Russian bombardments, Russian troops were inching forward through the city streets. Ukraine says about 70 per cent of the city is under Russian control.

“The enemy has entered the centre of Sievierodonetsk and is trying to take up positions,”