United States to Provide $1.7 Billion in Military Assistance to Ukraine

Officials announced on Monday that the U.S. will be sending $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including a variety of munitions for air defense systems, artillery, mortars, and anti-tank and anti-ship missiles.

The aid package consists of $1.5 billion allocated for long-term contracts through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, along with $200 million in immediate military aid sourced from Pentagon stockpiles.

This latest support comes shortly after the NATO summit in Washington, where allies focused on bolstering Ukraine’s defenses against Russian forces. President Joe Biden confirmed during the summit that a Patriot missile battery would be sent to Ukraine in response to a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

NATO members also agreed to establish a program for consistent military aid to Ukraine and prepare for its potential NATO membership, emphasizing that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to joining the alliance.

The aid package includes air defense interceptors, rockets, artillery, and anti-tank weapons provided through presidential drawdown authority. These include munitions for NASAMS and HIMARS.

In addition to weaponry, the U.S. will also supply secure communications systems, funding for commercial satellite imagery services, and demolitions equipment to Ukraine.

The Pentagon did not specify which systems would be sent to Ukraine immediately and which would be funded through contracts, potentially taking months or years to reach the warfront.

With this latest funding, the U.S. has now provided over $55.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that this aid package includes crucial capabilities for Ukraine’s defense. He noted that this is the ninth military aid package since late April, when Congress approved additional funding for aid to Kyiv after months of delays.

Kirby highlighted that there were concerns about Russia’s advancements on the battlefield, but Ukraine’s defensive lines have been strengthened since the funding was approved, and Ukrainian forces have continued to resist Russian aggression.