The United States has unveiled a fresh security package for Ukraine, valued at $250 million, to bolster its defenses against Russia. This aid includes crucial supplies such as additional small arms ammunition, missile munitions, air defense missiles, and artillery ammunition.
The aid package incorporates AIM-9M air defense missiles and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, both of which have been instrumental in Kyiv’s battle against Russia. Moreover, the assistance encompasses 155 mm and 105 mm artillery ammunition, mine-clearing equipment, Javelin rockets, and more than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition. Ambulances are also included in the package, although specific details about them remain undisclosed.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to social media, stating, “Today we are announcing a significant new assistance package for Ukraine. Guided rockets, anti-armor, and other munitions will help Ukraine’s military forces to defend their country’s sovereignty, territory, and people.”
The U.S. allocation of aid inches closer to the limit of Congress-approved funds designated for Ukraine. Earlier this month, the White House requested an additional $13 billion in security assistance for the nation grappling with turmoil.
This announcement is prompting a heated debate within the Republican Party, revealing divisions between those who advocate for support to Ukraine and those who harbor skepticism.
When factoring in the recent influx of equipment and weaponry, the total U.S. assistance provided since the outset of the war in early 2022 surpasses $43 billion, according to data compiled by The Hill. However, the exact amount spent and remaining is obscured by accounting discrepancies acknowledged by the Pentagon.
In the previous year, Congress greenlit around $47 billion in aid aimed at Ukraine’s direct security needs. The latest aid package, approved in December, serves as a continuation of this support.
