The United States announced on Friday that it had approved a $1.5 billion sale of armored vehicles to Bulgaria, a major new deal with the eastern European NATO member amid the war in Ukraine, AFP reported.

The US State Department has informed Congress that it has approved the sale to Bulgaria of 183 Stryker armored vehicles, half of which are infantry carriers.

The sale “will improve Bulgaria’s rapid infantry deployment and force delivery capabilities,” the statement said.

“Bulgaria will use its increased capabilities to strengthen internal defense and as a means of deterring regional threats,” the same source said.

The sale took place a month after Bulgaria, which has a large stockpile of Soviet weapons, agreed to send about a hundred armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.

This is a first for the Balkan country, which has so far been reluctant to directly help Kyiv because of its strong historical ties with Moscow.

The United States has increased military aid and equipment sales to Ukraine and NATO members since Russia invaded Kyiv last year.

On August 21, Washington approved a massive arms deal, including the sale of about a hundred Apache attack helicopters, to Poland, a major supporter of Ukraine, worth $12 billion.