The U.S. is sending a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, the Pentagon and State Department announced on Wednesday.
Quick Read
- New U.S. Military Aid Package for Ukraine: The U.S. is providing Ukraine with a $175 million military aid package, which includes guided missiles for HIMARS, anti-armor systems, and high-speed anti-radiation missiles.
- Congressional Stalemate on Funding: The aid arrives amid a stalemate in Congress over new funding for Ukraine, as well as for Israel and other security needs, with existing funds for aiding Ukraine nearing depletion.
- Secretary Blinken’s Statement: Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has stated that without new Congressional funding, this could be one of the last significant security assistance packages provided to Ukraine.
- Funding Bill Challenges: The nearly $106 billion funding bill sought by the White House is mired in negotiations, particularly over U.S. border security and Republican hesitance to approve substantial Ukraine war spending.
- Zelenskyy’s Canceled Address to U.S. Senators: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s planned video address to U.S. senators was canceled, as efforts to resolve the funding deadlock continue.
- Presidential Drawdown Authority: The latest weapons package will be delivered through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, utilizing existing U.S. stockpiles.
- Remaining Funding for U.S. Military Stockpiles: About $1.1 billion remains for replenishing U.S. military stockpiles, with approximately $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.
- Ukraine’s Defense Minister Meeting at Pentagon: Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Defense Minister, is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
- Continued Conflict Despite Winter: Despite wintry conditions, the conflict along the extensive front line remains dynamic, with both sides conducting airstrikes and Ukraine aiming to maintain pressure.
- Contents of Aid Package: The aid includes air defense missiles, artillery rounds, towing vehicles, demolition munitions, and over 4 million rounds of ammunition.
- Total U.S. Security Assistance: Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the United States has committed over $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
The Associated Press has the story:
US announces new weapons aid for Ukraine as Congress is stalled on more funding
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
The U.S. is sending a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, the Pentagon and State Department announced on Wednesday.
The latest aid comes as Congress remains stalled on legislation that would provide new funding for Ukraine as it battles to push back Russian forces, as well as money for Israel’s war with Hamas and other security needs. The Biden administration has said funding to aid Ukraine is running out, and the Pentagon packages of weapons and other equipment for the war have become much smaller in recent months.
In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that unless Congress approves the supplemental funding, “this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine.”
The White House is seeking nearly $106 billion, but the bill has gotten bogged down in negotiations over border security and because of increasing reluctance from Republican lawmakers to approve significant spending on the Ukraine war. GOP lawmakers are insisting on policy changes to halt the flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as a condition for the assistance.
As part of the push to break the deadlock, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to address U.S. senators by video Tuesday, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had to cancel his appearance.
The latest weapons package will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and sends them quickly to the war front.
Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday there is about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles for weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine. And he said there is roughly $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Wednesday afternoon.
Although the war has been static along most of its more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line as wintry weather has set in, both sides have continued to launch airstrikes. Ukraine is working to keep up the pressure over the winter, in order to prevent Russia from solidifying battle lines.
The new aid will also include AIM-9M and AIM-7 missiles for air defense; artillery rounds, vehicles to tow equipment, demolition munitions and other missiles and more than 4 million rounds of ammunition.
To date, the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
