DoD Announces Additional $400 Million Military Aid Package For Ukraine

The Department of Defense (DoD) plans to send millions of dollars worth of fresh military aid to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), the agency announced on Friday.

The assistance package is aimed at helping build the Ukrainian forces’ capacity to defend its sovereignty in the long term as well as “underscores” the continued support of Washington to help meet the country’s “most urgent needs,” a Nov. 4 press release by the DoD stated.

The defense department will send 45 Refurbished T-72B Tanks with advanced optics, communications, and armor packages, 1,100 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems, and 40 Armored Riverine Boats.

In addition, funding will be provided to refurbish HAWK air defense missiles for inclusion in future presidential drawdown packages and 250 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles. The department will grant funds for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities as well.

Ukraine will also be provided with tactical secure communication and surveillance systems. The T-72B tanks included in the package are part of a trilateral coordinated effort between the United States, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.

“Unlike Presidential Drawdown authority (PDA), which DoD has continued to leverage to deliver equipment to Ukraine from DoD stocks at a historic pace, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry.”

“This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine,” the release said.

Since Biden became president, the United States has committed over $18.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, of which $18.2 billion in aid came after Russia’s invasion of the country beginning February 24. Since 2014, over $21 billion in security assistance has been granted.

Weapons Inspections

The DoD is also sending weapons experts to Ukraine to inspect the arms it has supplied to the war-torn nation. The decision comes as concerns about accountability of these weapons have been rising, especially about how Ukraine is using them.

In an Oct. 31 briefing, a senior defense official said that the department has “not seen credible evidence” that U.S.-supplied weapons have been diverted.

“Instead, we see Ukraine’s frontline units effectively employing security assistance every day on the battlefield. Nonetheless, we are keenly aware of the possible risk of illicit diversion and are proactively taking all available steps to prevent this from happening,” he said.

Earlier, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had stated that there would be no “blank check” for Ukraine once Republicans gain majority in the House.

In an interview with CNBC, McCarthy reiterated his stance, pointing out that though Ukraine is very important, there should be no black check on anything as the United States is already $31 trillion in debt.