US announces $200 mln military aid package for Ukraine
The U.S. has announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS, as well as other support, the Pentagon says.
The package comes from "previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority" — money that remained after the Defense Department's accounting error.
Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes, Blinken said in a statement Monday.
The 44th tranche of US weapons support for Ukraine includes ammunition for Patriot and HIMARS missile systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, 120mm tank ammunition, Javelin anti-tank systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, and other anti-tank munitions and systems.
The Pentagon has further pledged 37 logistics vehicles, 58 water trailers, over 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, mine clearing equipment, explosives for clearing obstacles, spare parts, and other field equipment.
Thanks to the $6.2 billion "accounting error" discovered in June, the new funds will be allocated. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the U.S. Defense Department overestimated the value of arms sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, freeing up additional funds for Ukraine military aid.
