U.S. Announces New $2.5 Billion Security Aid Package For Ukraine

The Biden Administration on Thursday announced a $2.5 billion Ukraine security package  — its second largest ever — including Stryker armored vehicles and more Bradleys that could be used against any potential renewed Russian offensive, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The move came just days after the White House sent its largest, nearly $3.8 billion worth of security assistance for Ukraine and European allies.

The latest package also includes 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers and 59 more Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, along with ammunition for the HIMARS system, as well as additional munitions and systems for aerial defense, which the Pentagon has identified as an ongoing priority.

"This package, which totals $2.5 billion, will bring total U.S. military assistance for Ukraine to an unprecedented approximately $27.5 billion since the beginning of the Administration," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

In addition to its package, the U.S. also continues to rally the world to support Ukraine. "We have seen incredible solidarity from our allies and partners, including at today’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and we applaud the more than 50 countries who have come together to make significant contributions to support Ukraine," Blinken noted.

"Russia alone could end this war today. Until it does so, we will stand United with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he added.

In the meantime, needless to mention that after all the talk around tanks, the U.S. failed to include them in the latest aid package. “The maintenance and the high cost that it would take to maintain an Abrams, it just doesn’t make sense to provide that to the Ukrainians at this moment,” Pentagon's deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.