L’Oreal buys luxury brand Aesop with eye on China

April 5, 2023 | 2:34 pm

SAO PAULO/PARIS — France’s L’Oreal has agreed to buy Australian luxury brand Aesop from Natura & Co for an enterprise value of $2.53 billion, growing its presence in high-end cosmetics with an eye to international expansion, including in China.

For L’Oreal, which owns labels ranging from Maybelline to Lancome, and has been moving upmarket where consumers are less affected by an economic downturn, the deal is its largest brand acquisition to date, according to Dealogic data.

It provides Brazil’s Natura, owner of Avon and The Body Shop, with some financial relief from shrinking margins and heavy debt.

It was L’Oreal that sold The Body Shop to Natura in 2017, and with Aesop’s acquisition the French giant – which has a market capitalization of 223 billion euros ($243.45 billion) – is again the owner of a retail-based beauty and personal-hygiene brand.

“The acquisition will strengthen L’Oreal’s leadership in the natural cosmetics market,” said Jie Zhang, analyst at Alphavalue, adding that deal-making activity by major groups was moving to the fast-growing beauty industry.

L’Oreal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said in a statement the group saw “massive growth potential” in Aesop, notably in China – where the Australian brand made its debut with two stores in the last quarter of 2022 – and travel retail.

The French cosmetics group is known for buying emerging labels, and scaling them up through its global distribution network, Ian Simpson, analyst with Barclays, said, estimating Aesop will add around 1.2% to L’Oreal’s organic sales this year.

“Given L’Oreal’s strong track record of creating value from recent acquisitions, we expect this transaction to be helpful to sentiment, despite its limited size relative to L’Oreal,” he said.

The brand, Natura’s most profitable, operates almost 400 stores and posted sales of $537 million in 2022, up 21% in constant currency from a year earlier.

It also reported double-digit growth across all its regions last year, and said it had entered the Chinese market – one of the fastest growing for cosmetics – “with strong performance that exceeded expectations”.

For Natura, the deal is part of a broader organizational shake-up that saw former chief executive and executive chairman Roberto Marques step down last June to make way for Fabio Barbosa.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the acquisition will be paid in cash, expected in the third quarter of 2023, Natura said.

Established in 1987, Melbourne-headquartered Aesop offers skin, hair and body care products. — Reuters

No more rummaging in your bag: London City Airport scraps 100ml liquid rule

April 5, 2023 | 2:31 pm

LONDON — There will be no more rummaging in the bottom of your bag for a forgotten hand cream or water bottle at London City Airport after it became the first of the capital’s hubs to scrap the 100ml liquid limit rule.

Thanks to new high tech scanners, travellers going through security at City will be able to carry up to two liters of liquid, will not have to put toiletries in a separate bag and can leave laptops and other electronics in their hand luggage.

Britain wants the new scanners installed at all airports by June 2024, helping ease security queues as passengers will no longer have to take multiple items out of their bags.

London City, 10 miles east of central London and mainly serving European destinations, is the busiest British airport to introduce the technology so far, following smaller operator Teesside in north east England earlier this year.

London City’s Chief Operating Officer Alison FitzGerald said the passenger journey would be much less stressful without the hassle of unloading different items from hand luggage.

“The new process delivers a much more efficient security operation with enhanced security screening,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Britain introduced the 100ml liquid rule at airports in 2006 when police foiled an attack plot involving liquid explosives at Heathrow.

A handful of airports in the United States plus Amsterdam’s Schipol hub have already installed the high-tech scanners. Britain’s biggest airport Heathrow has tested them. — Reuters

Coronation roles for Prince George, Camilla’s grandchildren, says Buckingham Palace

April 5, 2023 | 2:31 pm

LONDON — King Charles’s grandson Prince George and the grandchildren of the Queen Consort Camilla will play major roles in the coronation of the British monarch next month, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday.

George, 9, the eldest son of heir to the throne Prince William, will be one of the king’s four pages of honor who will accompany him at the grand ceremony on May 6, and join the procession through the nave of London’s Westminster Abbey.

Camilla’s four pages will be made up of her grandchildren Freddy Parker Bowles, and Gus and Louis Lopes, as well as her great-nephew Arthur Elliot.

British newspapers had previously reported that the queen consort wanted her grandchildren to play significant roles, even though their parents are the children from her marriage to her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.

The announcement comes as the Palace also released a new official photograph of Charles and Camilla, and details of the invitation which will be sent out to the more than 2,000 coronation guests.

The artwork for this, designed by heraldic artist Andrew Jamieson, was handpainted in watercolor and gouache, and features a motif of the Green Man – an ancient figure from British folklore.

Flowers on the invitation, which will be made from recycled card, will appear in groupings of three – a nod to the king being the third monarch to be called Charles – and it will also feature a lion, a unicorn and a boar, taken from the royal couple’s coats of arms. — Reuters

Fish be with you

April 5, 2023 | 2:30 pm

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OBSERVANT Catholics abstain from eating meat during Lent as a form of penance, seen as it as an indulgence. These days, the fasting period has been reduced to just during Holy Week (beginning on Palm Sunday); or even just during Good Friday. Here are some fish-based recipes from canned fish giants Century Tuna and Mega Prime Foods that one can easily make during Holy Week (or all-year round, if you happen to like fish).

Century Tuna Java Rice

3 tablespoons atsuete oil*
2 tablespoons chopped onions
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
3 tablespoons diced red bell peppers
3 tablespoons green peas
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-180 grams Century Tuna Flakes in Vegetable Oil, drained
4 cups cooked rice
3/4 teaspoon salt, or according to taste

Procedure:

*To make atsuete oil: Heat 1/4 cup cooking oil in a pan. Add a tablespoon of atsuete seeds and fry for a few seconds until oil turns bright orange in color. Strain seeds and discard. Use the oil for Tuna Java Rice.

Heat the atsuete oil in a non-stick stir frying pan. Sauté the garlic, onions, bell peppers, and green peas. Add hot sauce, ketchup, cinnamon, and tuna. Add rice then stir fry until color is even. Season with salt. Serve hot.

Makes three to four servings.

Century Tuna Hawaiian Burger

Ingredients:

1-184 grams Century Tuna Chunks in Vegetable Oil, drained
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup cooking oil
5 hamburger buns
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded lettuce
4 slices pineapple rings

Procedure:

In a bowl, combine Century Tuna, onions, breadcrumbs and eggs. Mix well until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into round patties. Stack the patties in between sheets of aluminum foil. Let stand in the chiller for 30 minutes. Heat some oil in a grill pan and fry the patties until brown on both sides.

Meanwhile, warm the burger buns in a toaster oven. Spread the mayonnaise on bun then top with the grilled tuna patty, lettuce, and pineapple ring.

Makes five servings.

Stir Fried Century Tuna and Spaghetti in Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

1 – 184 grams Century Tuna Chunks in Vegetable Oil, drained,
reserve oil for sautéing
1/2 cup sliced onion
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup carrot strips
1/4 cup green bell pepper strips
1 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup rice wine
2 teaspoons chili garlic paste
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup chicken broth or water
600 grams cooked spaghetti noodles (from 300 grams uncooked)
1/4 cup coarsely shopped peanuts
1/4 cup chopped wansuy (cilantro)

Procedure:

Heat a large stir-fry pan or wok. Add oil from the can of tuna. Stir-fry the onion, garlic, carrot, bell pepper, bean sprouts, and tuna. Pour in rice wine. Cover and allow to cook to 2 minutes. Strain the vegetables and tuna from the pan, and set aside. In the same pan, add the chili-garlic paste, peanut butter, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and sugar. Add chicken broth then allow it to boil. Stir in the cooked spaghetti. Add the stir-fried tuna and vegetables. Toss until heated through. Stir in peanuts and wansuy before removing from heat. Serve immediately.

Makes five to six servings.

Greek Salad with Mega Spanish Sardines

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoons freshly ground pepper
3 medium-sized tomatoes (cut into large chunks)
1 large-sized English cucumber (cut into large chunks)
1 (15 oz.) can of rinsed chickpeas
1/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup of red onion (thinly sliced)
2 tbsp. Kalamata olives (sliced)
2 (4 oz.) cans of sardines packed in olive oil or water

Whisk the lemon juice, oil, garlic, pepper, and oregano in a large-sized bowl until finely mixed.
Add the tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, feta cheese, olives, and onion.
Gently toss until fully combined.
Add the sardines over the salad mixtures then serve.

Makes four servings.

Mega Tuna BLT

1 can Mega Tuna Hot & Spicy
1 egg
Bread crumbs
Chives
Salt and pepper to taste

For the tuna burger patties, mix together the drained Mega Tuna Hot & Spicy, bread crumbs, beaten egg, chives, salt and pepper.
Mix them well then form the mixture in to 2 large patties.
Pan-fry the patties in a large saute pan with some oil over medium heat until it becomes golden brown.
Drain the excess oil on some paper towels. Assemble the burger with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Serve with chips on the side.

Sacramento Kings pound Pelicans, seal Pacific Division title

April 5, 2023 | 1:27 pm

Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double, Keegan Murray produced a barrage of 3-pointers and the visiting Sacramento Kings overcame a slow offensive start to rout the New Orleans Pelicans 121-103 on Tuesday night.

Sabonis finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and De’Aaron Fox added 23 points and nine assists as the Kings (48-31) won the Pacific Division for their first division title in 20 years.

Murray made 7 of 10 3-point attempts and Sacramento finished 17 of 42 (40.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Malik Monk scored 17 points off the bench, Harrison Barnes added 16 and Kevin Huerter had 11 for the Kings.

Brandon Ingram scored 22 points, but committed a career-high seven turnovers for the Pelicans (40-39), who lost for just the second time in nine games and missed an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Trey Murphy III scored 17, Jonas Valanciunas had 13, CJ McCollum and Dyson Daniels had 12 each and Herbert Jones 11 for New Orleans, which made just 7 of 20 3-point tries (35 percent).

Sacramento took control by scoring 40 points in the second quarter, but McCollum’s basket pulled New Orleans within 80-71 midway through the third quarter.

Murray made three consecutive 3-pointers and Sacramento opened a 96-80 lead at the end of the third quarter. He made 5 of 6 3-point tries and the Kings finished 6 of 9 in the period.

Barnes converted a three-point play to start the fourth-quarter scoring, and the Kings’ lead didn’t shrink below 14 points the rest of the way. Sacramento won the season series 2-1.

Ingram scored nine straight Pelicans points as the hosts took a 14-4 lead after four minutes. However, New Orleans scored just eight points in the next eight minutes.

Huerter and Sabonis each scored eight points and Monk beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer that gave the Kings a 25-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Fox scored 10 points and Monk and Barnes had nine each during the second quarter as Sacramento established a 65-54 halftime lead. — Field Level Media

Fourth-quarter rally leads Warriors past Thunder

April 5, 2023 | 1:27 pm

Jordan Poole poured in 18 fourth-quarter points and the Golden State Warriors, who never led through three periods, rallied past the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 136-125 win on Tuesday in San Francisco.

The result moved the Warriors (42-38) into fifth place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers (41-38), who now sit in the final automatic playoff position. Golden State won for the sixth time in eight games and improved to an NBA-best 33-8 at home.

The Warriors outscored the Thunder (38-42) by a 34-19 margin in the fourth quarter.

Stephen Curry paced the Warriors with 34 points, and Poole finished with 30. Draymond Green contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo scored 16 points and Moses Moody added 13.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points for the Thunder, who took their third loss in a row. Jalen Williams put up 19 points, Luguentz Dort had 17, Josh Giddey notched 15, Isaiah Joe finished with 14 and Aaron Wiggins managed 11.

The Thunder sit in 10th place in the West, the final play-in position. They are a half-game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks (37-42).

Oklahoma City led 79-69 at halftime thanks to 59.6 percent shooting from the floor. The Warriors hit half of their first-half field-goal attempts. Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 21 points before the break while Curry had 24.

Green scored eight points in the third quarter as the Warriors climbed within 106-102 entering the final period.

The game was tied three times early in the fourth quarter before Golden State pulled away. Poole scored 10 consecutive Golden State points during the decisive surge. — Field Level Media

Real Madrid must deliver complete performance against Barca — Ancelotti

April 5, 2023 | 1:25 pm

Real Madrid must focus on putting in a complete performance instead of going all out in their search for a goal as they look to overturn a one-goal deficit against Barcelona in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, manager Carlo Ancelotti said.

Real center back Eder Militao scored an own goal in the first half of last month’s first leg, before Barcelona defended superbly to frustrate Ancelotti’s side and secure a 1-0 win.

“It’s always the most important game for me, for Real Madrid and for the fans. There is a very big rivalry,” Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of the game at Camp Nou.

“This match allows us to play another final and it is the most important objective. It is an important competition and we are close. We will do everything we can to play in a final.

“The idea is not to go crazy to score a goal. The idea is to play a complete game with and without the ball. We haven’t got there many times and that’s an important aspect. We’re not going to go crazy, because you can score a goal in the fifth minute and then concede two.”

Barcelona have beaten Real three times in 2023, including wins in the first leg of the tie, a league clash last month and the Spanish Super Cup final in January.

When asked if he could field a different lineup or formation to outfox the Catalan club, Ancelotti said, “it’s difficult to change the system after working on the same system all year”.

“Small details are where you can surprise your opponent. In general, a change in the system will only surprise you,” the Italian added.

Ancelotti added that defender Antonio Rudiger, who missed Real’s 6-0 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday, was back in training and available for the midweek clash.

‘MADRID SEEKING REVENGE’
Despite Barcelona’s advantage heading into the second leg, coach Xavi Hernandez warned his side to be cautious of a “hurt” Madrid side.

“I think they’ll be set on getting revenge because they’ve lost the last three games against us,” Xavi told a news conference.

“We might try something different to surprise them. I don’t think they will. They have a very clear idea about their game and they do it very well … I certainly wouldn’t say we have the measure against then.

“They have every chance of winning and are very good at games like this where they need to mount a comeback. I still think they’re the favorites. They are very hard to beat over two legs.” — Reuters

Liverpool took ‘little step’ forward in draw at Chelsea, Klopp says

April 5, 2023 | 1:24 pm

LONDON — Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp said his side’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Tuesday was “a little step in the right direction” after a 4-1 drubbing by Manchester City last weekend and offered hope for Sunday’s match against league leaders Arsenal.

“Each success starts with being difficult to beat and we have to be difficult to beat again,” Klopp told reporters after his much-changed team survived an early onslaught by Chelsea.

“If we are difficult to beat against Arsenal, we can win this game. If not, Arsenal will just go over us,” he said ahead of the visit by the in-form Gunners to Anfield.

Klopp made six changes from the starting team who lost against Manchester City on Saturday, including three defenders which he said represented “a real challenge” for his players.

After helping Chelsea by repeatedly losing possession early in the game, he praised his team for fixing the problems.

“Not the most spectacular one,” he said, referring to the game, “but a little step in the right direction.”

The draw left Liverpool in eighth place in the league table, seven points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth Champions League qualifying spot having played a game less than Spurs. — Reuters

FIFA bans former Peru FA president for life over bribery charges

April 5, 2023 | 1:23 pm

Former president of the Peruvian Football Association Manuel Burga Seoane has been banned from all football-related activities for life by FIFA for participating in bribery schemes, world soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday.

Seoane was also ordered to pay a fine of 1 million Swiss francs ($1.10 million) for breaching articles in FIFA’s Code of Ethics related to conflicts of interest, bribery and corruption, and offering and accepting gifts or other benefits among others.

“The sanction imposed on Mr Burga Seoane follows a previous decision rendered by the adjudicatory chamber in July 2019,” FIFA said.

That decision was annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April last year and referred back to the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee.

But the adjudicatory chamber said it was “comfortably satisfied” that Seoane, also a former member of the CONMEBOL Executive Committee and the FIFA Development Committee, had breached the code of ethics.

Reuters has contacted the Peruvian FA for comment.

FIFA also said it had banned Bimo Wirjasoekarta, the President of Indonesian club Tira Persikabo, for two years after finding him guilty of “acts of intimidation, coercion, threat and exploitation towards a player”.

Wirjasoekarta’s sanction is suspended for a probationary period of three years and he must also pay a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs. — Reuters

Trump claims election interference is behind criminal charges

April 5, 2023 | 12:01 pm

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump speaks during a forum called Generation Next at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump — REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS/FILE PHOTO

PALM BEACH, Florida – A subdued former President Donald Trump lashed out on Tuesday at New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg for bringing criminal charges against him and declared himself the victim of election interference without offering evidence.

“I never thought anything like this could happen in America,” Trump told supporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. “The only crime that I’ve committed has been to fearlessly defend our nation against those who seek to destroy it.”

Earlier, Trump pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, as prosecutors accused him of orchestrating payments to two women before the 2016 election to suppress publication of their sexual encounters with him.

Trump, running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, on Tuesday night in Florida gave a relatively short speech, 25 minutes, compared to his rally speeches that can sometimes last two hours.

Despite launching a tirade against prosecutors, he did not call for new protests from his supporters. And while he is expected to return to the campaign trail soon, he gave no details of that.

Trump, 76, reached deep into his well of personal grievances to declare himself hounded by political opponents using the legal system against him to try to stop him from winning back the White House in 2024.

Trump accused Manhattan District Attorney Bragg of being out to get him “before he knew anything about me.” He said the judge in the case, Juan Merchan, is “a Trump-hating judge.” But he did not offer any evidence to support his claim that they were taking their actions in order to undermine his White House bid.

ATTACKS LEGAL CASES

Trump took fresh shots at all the various legal cases against him, from the handling of classified documents that were taken to Mar-a-Lago when Trump moved out of the White House in early 2021, the probe into the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol and the election interference case he is facing in Georgia from the 2020 election.

Trump expressed particular concern about the documents case being investigated by special counsel Jack Smith, who he called a “lunatic” several times.

He said the cases amount to an attempt to thwart his third run for the presidency, calling it “massive election interference at a scale never seen.”

Gathered before him in a gilt-edged ballroom at Mar-a-Lago were a number of combative, diehard Trump backers, including Republican lawmakers Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, long-time operative Roger Stone, pillow maker Mike Lindell, former US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell and Trump sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Trump’s wife, Melania, was not seen in the ballroom.

SHOW OF SUPPORT

Among the hundreds there was Nathan Mitchell, 18, the incoming president of the Florida Atlantic University’s college Republicans club.

He said he was there to support a man who represents “the best chance that America has to become great again.”

Of the accusations brought against Trump, Mitchell said, “It humiliates us all in front of the world.”

Wearing a black leather biker vest, with a “Born to Ride” patch above the number 45, Alex Gonzalez, 45, who operates a security company in Palm Beach said he was there to show the former president that the people believe in him.

“It’s all a charade, man, it’s all a witch hunt,” Gonzalez said of the indictment. “Trump should not be held above the law – if he does something wrong, he should be held liable like anybody else. But this is BS and everybody knows it.” — Reuters

Fed’s Mester says rate target will need to go over 5%

April 5, 2023 | 11:51 am

Federal-Reserve-reuters-640x424 — REUTERS

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said on Tuesday that the US central bank likely has more interest rate rises ahead amid signs the recent banking sector troubles have been contained.

To keep inflation on a sustained downward path to 2% and keep inflation expectations anchored, Mester said she sees monetary policy moving “somewhat further into restrictive territory this year, with the fed funds rate moving above 5% and the real fed funds rate staying in positive territory for some time.”

“Precisely how much higher the federal funds rate will need to go from here and for how long policy will need to remain restrictive will depend on how much inflation and inflation expectations are moving down, and that will depend on how much demand is slowing, supply challenges are being resolved, and price pressures are easing,” Mester said in a speech before a group of economists in New York.

The Fed in late March raised rates by a quarter percentage point, to between 4.75% and 5%. The decision was haunted by banking sector troubles that led policymakers to say that a tightening in financial conditions would likely weigh on economic activity.

“I was very comfortable with moving ahead” with the rate rise, given that authorities had taken steps to manage risks coming from banking sector troubles, Mester said in remarks following her speech.

At the policy meeting, officials also penciled in a single additional rate rise for this year, as the Fed continues to boost the cost of short-term borrowing in a bid to lower inflation.

In her remarks, Mester, who does not have a vote on the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee this year, said, “My forecast is similar to the modal forecasts of FOMC participants released two weeks ago, although I see somewhat more persistent inflation pressures than the median forecast among participants.”

She also pushed back on market views that the Fed will need to cut rates much sooner than central bankers currently expect. “Can I come up with scenarios that would have the Fed cutting rates? Yes. Is it my modal forecast? No.”

Mester expressed confidence that banking sector woes should ultimately prove contained.

“The US banking system is sound and resilient,” she said. “The stresses experienced in the banking system in March have eased, but the Fed continues to carefully monitor conditions and is prepared to take further steps as necessary to ensure financial stability.”

In her remarks, Mester said she expects growth and hiring to slow and inflation pressures to ease.

There should be a “meaningful improvement” in inflation with price pressures easing from their current 5% year-over-year increase to 3.75% this year and 2% by 2025, Mester said.

She said growth should slow to below-trend levels this year before ticking up next year. Unemployment, now at 3.6%, should rise to between 4.5% and 4.75% by the close of 2023, she said. — Reuters

US pledges $2.6 billion more in weapons aid to Ukraine

April 5, 2023 | 11:43 am

Ukraine-flag-Honor Guard — MEMBERS of the Honor Guard attend a rising ceremony of Ukraine's biggest national flag to mark the Day of the State Flag, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 23. — UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/REUTERS

WASHINGTON – The US unveiled $2.6 billion worth of military assistance that includes three air surveillance radars, anti-tank rockets and fuel trucks, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday, as Ukraine prepares a spring offensive against invading Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday told the US National Governors Association that the United States could protect its values by helping Ukraine.

“Our cooperation will allow for the new enhancement of your security, for our economy and yours, for jobs in both our countries,” Zelenskiy said by video link.

“The main thing is not to lose time, not to lose the chance we have. Act now, help now. Ukrainians act so that Americans don’t have to fight – and together we gain new strength for our countries,” he continued.

The Russian embassy in Washington reacted to the announcement by accusing the United States of wanting to drag out the conflict as long as possible, Russian news agency TASS said.

“The decision to supply weapons to Kyiv is a step towards escalating the Ukrainian crisis and increasing the number of civilian casualties,” it cited an embassy statement as saying.

The weapons aid package was comprised of $2.1 billion from Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funding which allows President Joe Biden’s administration to buy weapons from industry rather than from US weapons stocks.

The USAI package included additional munitions for NASAMS air defenses that the US and allies have given to Kyiv, precision aerial munitions, Soviet-era GRAD rockets, anti-tank rockets, armored bridging systems used in assaults, and 105 fuel trailers, along with funding for training and maintenance.

The remaining $500 million came from Presidential Drawdown Authority funds, which allows the president to take from current US stocks in an emergency.

That segment of the package included a half a dozen types of munitions, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems, tank munitions, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

Last month, Leopard 2 battle tanks pledged by Germany and Portugal reached Ukraine. The package announced on Tuesday includes 61 heavy fuel tankers and recovery vehicles to help disabled heavy equipment like tanks.

The US has now pledged more than $35.2 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine since the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. On Monday, Ambassador Julianne Smith, the US permanent representative to NATO, said that Washington expects Ukraine “to put forward or begin some sort of their own spring offensive in the weeks ahead.” — Reuters