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The Biden administration on Friday announced nearly $4 billion in security assistance for Ukraine and European allies, building on its promise this week to send armored vehicles in Washington’s largest package since Putin's full-scale invasion began nearly a year ago, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
The upcoming military aid package, the 29th such tranche, for the first time includes radar-guided Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, which can be launched from the sea or on land to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles. Also new to this aid package are 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, armored tracked vehicles manufactured by U.S. defense firm BAE Systems
Additional ammunition for HIMARS, as well as RIM-7 missiles for air defense and 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets are also included.
The funds will also cover $225 million in Foreign Military Financing to go toward Ukraine building its long-term capacity and support modernization. This will be used “to cover wartime requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the State Department said, adding that it may also be used to support the sustainment of equipment previously provided to Ukraine.
An additional $682 million will also cover military financing for east European countries to help them replace American equipment sent to Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told TURAN's Washington correspondent during his briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Center. "These were to our allies and partners, including to NATO Allies on the Eastern flank"
U.S. officials "are always looking at" what Ukraine needs to fight the Russian invaders. "Their battlefield needs have evolved over time," Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said when describing the latest package.
Washington believes that the aid to Ukraine is "important one", as Cooper put it. "From an overall strategic perspective, it is hard to emphasize enough the devastating consequences if Putin were to be successful in achieving his objective of taking over Ukraine," she said.
"This would rewrite international boundaries in a way that we have not seen since World War II. And our ability to reverse these gains and to support and stand by the sovereignty of a nation, is something that resonates not just in Europe, but all around the world.
"No one wants to send a signal to another bully around the world that they can take over their neighboring country without paying a steep, steep price," Cooper said.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
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