US set to announce $1 bln military aid package to bolster Ukraine’s defense
Фото: Посольство США в Україні via Facebook
The United States is preparing a new $988 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include additional equipment, missiles, and drones.
Reuters reports according to the US Department of Defense.
The package is expected to provide missiles and drones, among other items, and will utilize nearly half of the $2.21 billion remaining in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The Biden administration aims to purchase these weapons directly from manufacturers rather than drawing from existing US stockpiles.
The Pentagon specified that the aid package will include:
- Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS);
- Equipment, components, and spare parts for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of artillery systems, tanks, and armored vehicles.
What US military aid mean for Ukraine
Support from the United States, including weapons, ammunition, and other equipment, is a critical factor in Ukraine's ability to confront Russia's aggression. A reduction in this assistance could severely impact Ukraine's capacity for active defense and effective territorial protection.
A few days ago, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, during a meeting with the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, stated that the US would provide an "avalanche" of military aid until the end of President Joe Biden's administration. This aid includes large-scale deliveries of weapons, equipment, and ammunition, as well as new sanctions against Russia.
It is worth noting that in early November, the United States announced a $425 million military aid package for Ukraine. The package includes missiles, ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons.
In turn, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if the US reduces military aid, Ukraine could face a critical situation. The resources currently available from Ukrainian production are insufficient to effectively resist Russian aggression.
Additionally, there are concerns that the US may not allocate more than $6.5 billion in funds for weapons deliveries to Ukraine before the end of Joe Biden's presidential term.
Last week, it was revealed that President Joe Biden had requested Congress to approve an additional $24 billion for military aid to Ukraine and to replenish American weapons stockpiles already sent to Kyiv.
However, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson has stated that he will not bring President Biden's proposed additional aid package for Ukraine to a vote.
