US announces $1 billion package for Ukraine

The Defense Department announced a $1 billion package for Ukraine shortly after President Biden on Wednesday signed a supplemental national security law aimed at delivering critical artillery shells and air defense munitions to Kiev, as his troops struggle with dwindling resources to defend against a Russian military invasion. .

The $1 billion price tag is much higher than previous packages, which generally totaled about a few hundred million dollars, in part because Congress delayed sending more aid to Ukraine for months after the last aid was delivered. of the US have run out by the end of 2023. This has made Ukraine more desperate for help as ammunition runs out and Russia advances on the battlefield, putting Ukrainian troops at a disadvantage.

A key part of the new package are 155mm artillery rounds and other mortar and artillery ammunition, along with RIM-7 and AIM-9M air defense ammunition. Kiev has made both a priority, with artillery an important part of covering Ukrainian troops on the ground and air defenses crucial to defending cities.

Wednesday’s package includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor launchers, small arms ammunition such as .50-caliber rounds, and ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems.

And Ukraine will receive Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Humvees and other logistical and tactical vehicles, along with anti-armor mines, demolition materials and other spare parts and equipment.

Notably, the package does not include the long-range artillery weapon called the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which can hit targets up to 300 kilometers away. The Biden administration provided older versions of ATACMS, but not a newer model.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week that he called Biden and that there was an agreement to supply ATACMS, but did not provide further details, including when they could be delivered.

After sanctioning the $95 billion national security package, of which around $61 billion will be allocated to support Ukraine, Biden said it was a “good day for world peace”.

“The Americans will send Ukraine the supplies it needs to keep it fighting,” he said, promising to begin sending equipment within hours. “This package is literally an investment not only in the security of Ukraine, but also in the security of Europe, in our own security.”

Zelensky expressed his gratitude after the Senate approved the package on Tuesday night, just days after the House. On Wednesday, Zelensky said that “the key now is speed.”

“Every leader who doesn’t waste time saves lives” he wrote on the social platform. “Every state that knows how to act quickly safeguards the rules-based world order.”

Even with the new weapons package, Ukraine will face an uphill battle against a larger Russian army, which has seized the initiative amid delayed U.S. assistance to attack the Ukrainians across the 600-mile eastern front line and advance into Donetsk region.

But the weapons will help stabilize the front, where Russian forces have seized at least one town and threaten another strategic town in the eastern region of Donetsk.