U.S. Announces Nearly $2 Billion For Ukraine In New Security Assistance

The Biden administration on Friday announced 2 new security assistance packages for Ukraine worth $2.2 billion in total, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"These packages include critical air defense and counter-drone capabilities to help Ukraine defend its people, as well as armored infantry vehicles and more equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, artillery ammunition, and conventional and long-range rockets for U.S.-provided HIMARS," Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a statement.

The latest advanced weapons for Ukraine include the Boeing-made Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb. This marks the first time the U.S. has sent over to Ukraine a long-range missile, something Kyiv has long requested.

Below is what is included in the Presidential Drawdown Authority, the 31st such package, per the Pentagon:

- Additional ammunition for HIMARS

- Additional 155mm artillery rounds

- Additional 120mm mortar rounds

- 190 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights and associated ammunition to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems

- 181 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

- 250 Javelin anti-armor systems

- 2,000 anti-armor rockets

- Claymore anti-personnel munitions

- Demolitions munitions

- Cold weather gear, helmets, and other field equipment

The Pentagon will also seek the following items from U.S. defense industry for Ukraine:

- Two HAWK air defense firing units

- Anti-aircraft guns and ammunition

- Equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems

- Equipment to sustain Ukraine’s existing air defense capabilities

- Air defense generators

- Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems

- Four air surveillance radars

- 20 counter-mortar radars

- Spare parts for counter-artillery radars

- Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems

- Precision-guided rockets

- Secure communications equipment

- Medical supplies

- Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.

In total, the U.S. has now committed $30 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration.

“Russia alone could end its unprovoked war today.  Until it does so, we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Blinken noted in his statement.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.