The Biden administration has recently approved $275 million in new military assistance for Ukraine, bringing the total number of weapons and equipment provided by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to Ukraine since August 2021 to 58 tranches. This marks the fifth security assistance package ordered by the Biden administration since Congress passed a $95 billion foreign security package in April that included about $61 billion for new rounds of Ukraine-related aid.
This latest round of military support aims to replenish stocks of artillery weapons and provide equipment for front-line troops. The DOD stated that it will include more ammunition for the U.S.-donated High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rocket artillery weapons, among other forms of artillery shells. Other items to be supplied include anti-tank missile launchers, precision aerial munitions, anti-armor mines, demolitions munitions, small arms and ammunition, grenades, helmets and body armor, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective equipment, as well as tactical recovery vehicles for towing damaged or stuck vehicles and equipment.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, assistance from previous aid packages has already reached the front lines, and this new aid will be moved quickly so that the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect its people. Blinken also announced $2 billion in funding on May 15 to support Ukraine’s domestic military industry.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense expressed gratitude for the latest tranche of U.S. support, stating that this assistance is crucial at a time when Ukrainian forces are facing intense pressure from Russian advances in Kharkiv. The Biden administration has been rushing weapons and funding to help the Ukrainian forces resist these advances, with a particular focus on supplying more air defense systems such as Patriot missiles defenses to assist Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin distanced himself from comments made by Ms. Nuland, who suggested that Ukrainian forces should launch cross-border strikes to hit targets inside Russia if attacks are coming directly from over the line in Russia. Mr. Austin emphasized that Ukrainian forces should focus on the close fight and highlighted the difference between air defense systems and artillery weapons when it comes to firing into Russian airspace to deter Russian air forces from dropping glide-bomb munitions that can fly across the border and impact inside Ukrainian territory.
In summary, President Joe Biden’s administration has continued its support for Ukraine by approving $275 million in new military assistance aimed at replenishing artillery weapons and providing equipment for front-line troops. This marks the 58th tranche of weapons and equipment supplied by the DOD to Ukraine since August 2021, with a particular focus on supplying more air defense systems such as Patriot missiles defenses to assist Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region as they face intense pressure from Russian advances.