Ukraine to Receive $200 Million in US Military Assistance
The Pentagon is set to provide Ukraine with $200 million in weapons and ammunition to support its counteroffensive against Russian forces. The aid package will include missiles for the HIMARS and Patriot air defense systems, as well as munitions, rockets, mine-clearing equipment, and small arms ammunition. This comes as the Biden administration is expected to request additional funding from Congress to continue supporting Ukraine. The US has already provided over $43 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded last year, but much of the ammunition and weaponry has been used up due to the ongoing conflict. The Biden administration is funding Ukraine’s war effort through the presidential drawdown authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The Pentagon has about $6.2 billion left in its budget for this fiscal year, and the $200 million aid package will be drawn from that surplus. Pentagon officials are confident that they can continue supplying Ukraine’s needs on the battlefield and have about $600 million remaining in fiscal year 2023 funds.
