The White House announced on Friday that President Joe Biden has authorized a significant new military aid package worth $400 million to Kiev.
According to a statement released by the White House, Biden has empowered Secretary of State Antony Blinken with the authority to “identify defensive equipment” and oversee the provision of U.S. Defense Department services, including “military training and education, and assisting Ukraine.”
Secretary Blinken elaborated in a written statement that the aid package includes “urgently needed capabilities, including additional ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger missiles for portable air defense systems, equipment to integrate Western launch platforms, missiles and radars with Ukrainian systems.”
The Department of State’s announcement further detailed that the aid package includes HIMARS rocket systems and ammunition, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin missiles, AT4 rockets, precision-guided munitions, Bradley fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, coastal and riverine patrol boats, small arms ammunition, and hand grenades.
The Pentagon noted that since the beginning of Biden’s presidency, the United States has allocated more than $51.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, with over $50.6 billion provided since the start of Russia’s special military operation.
This ongoing support underlines the U.S. commitment to Ukraine amidst the continued conflict with Russian forces.
