US to send $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON – The US will send $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraineofficials announced Monday, including a range of munitions for air defense systems, artillery, mortars, and anti-tank and anti-ship missiles.

The package includes $1.5 billion in funding for long-term contracts through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $200 million in immediate military aid drawn from the Pentagon’s arsenals.

The latest arms infusion comes just over two weeks after the NATO summit in Washington, where allies focused a significant amount of time on bolstering support for Ukraine as it pushes back Russian forces. President Joe Biden announced during the summit that the US would send a battery of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, responding to a key call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

NATO members agreed to create a new program provide reliable military aid to Ukraine and prepare for its eventual accession to the alliance. And they declared that Ukraine was in “ irreversible ”path to joining NATO.

In the latest package, air defense munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, as well as Javelin and other missiles will be provided through presidential withdrawal authority. , which allows the Pentagon to remove weapons directly from its shelves. The package also includes anti-armor systems, artillery, small arms, demolition equipment and other spare and maintenance parts.

The Pentagon said the long-term contracted weapons will include “capabilities to augment” Ukraine’s air defenses, including short- and medium-range munitions. USAI will also provide funding for mortars, anti-armor systems, electronic warfare equipment, explosives, secure communications systems and commercial satellite imaging services.

USAI-supplied weapons and equipment will go through the contracting process and therefore will not reach the warfront for months or years.

With the latest funding, the US has already sent more than $55.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the package includes “critical capabilities for the fight.” He said this is the ninth military aid package for Ukraine since late April, when Congress finally approved supplemental funding for aid to Kiev after months of stalemate. and delays.

At that point, he said, “there were legitimate concerns that Russia would achieve a strategic breakthrough on the battlefield by the summer.” But since the funding was approved by Congress, “Ukraine’s defensive lines have been fortified and Ukrainian forces have continued to fight bravely and repel Russian advances.”