US clears $2.7 billion Ukraine arms package to bolster air defences

The US State Department has approved a possible $2.68 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, equipment and related services, as Kyiv faces continued Russian attacks and seeks stronger security support from its allies.The department announced the determination late on Friday, describing the package as focused on upgrading Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities. The proposed sale comes as US-mediated efforts to end Russia’s more than four-year full-scale invasion have stalled, with territorial concessions in eastern Ukraine remaining a key sticking point in negotiations.Ukraine has also been seeking security guarantees from its partners as part of any potential settlement.The announcement came as Russian forces continued attacks across Ukraine. Two people were killed and two others injured in overnight strikes in the Zhytomyr region, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.