U.S. announces $250 million military aid package for Ukraine - Blinken
Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State (Photo: Getty Images)
The United States has provided Ukraine with a package of military aid worth $250 million, according to a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's fifty-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021," the statement reads.
The new aid package includes additional air defense assets, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression.
The new aid package includes:
- Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
- Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;
- Air defense system components;
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
- More than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition;
- Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;
- Spare parts, medical equipment, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.
U.S. assistance to Ukraine
The U.S. Congress failed to approve Biden's request to allocate over $100 billion for national security needs by the end of 2023. Over $60 billion was earmarked for Ukraine in this request.
Republican opposition was the major hurdle, as they refused to support the initiative. They demanded that the White House include their proposals to strengthen border security in their request.
Yesterday, December 20, it was reported that Congress adjourned for recess without approving Biden's request. As a result, there remains only one package of military aid funds allocated for Ukraine in the U.S.
