US allocates new $175 mln arms package to Ukraine
The US announced a new $175 million military assistance package for Ukraine, including air defense ammunition and artillery shells, anti-radiation and anti-tank missiles.
Capabilities provided in today's package include air defense munitions, additional ammunition for HIMARS, artillery ammunition, small arms ammunition, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, etc.
"Until Russia ends this war by stopping its brutal attacks and withdrawing its forces from Ukraine, it is critical for the United States to continue to lead the coalition we have built of more than 50 countries standing strongly with Ukraine," the message reads.
If Congress does not approve the US President's request for additional funding for national security, this will be one of the last security assistance packages that the state can provide to Ukraine.
"Helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression and secure its future is in our national security interests and promotes global stability around the world, and we need Congress to act now," the US State Department said.
US President Joe Biden was to announce the allocation of funding for additional assistance to Ukraine. An unnamed US official said that Biden will also urge Congress to approve his national security funding request, which includes more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Back in October of this year, the White House requested about $106 billion from the US Congress for Ukraine, Israel, and other priority areas.
On November 2, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to allocate military aid to Israel totaling $14.3 billion without mentioning Ukraine.
Last week, new Speaker Mike Johnson said that he was "confident and optimistic" that the US Congress could pass additional funds to help Israel and Ukraine before the Christmas holidays. Meanwhile, the White House has warned that the available funds to help Ukraine will run out by the end of the year.
Biden's administration once again emphasized that Russia should not be allowed to make progress on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Biden has called the possibility of cutting off military aid to Ukraine "insane."
On December 5, the Democratic wing unveiled a new budget request worth about $111 billion, which includes financial assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as well as a set of measures to protect the US southern border with Mexico.
The new budget request was submitted to the Senate after discussions between lawmakers reached a deadlock. Republicans are demanding that any agreement to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel also include changes to strengthen U.S. border security.
The US has about $5.9 billion left for military aid to Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said during a briefing. Without additional funding, the Pentagon may soon reach a point where it cannot maintain the current level of security assistance to Ukraine.
