The US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, announced a $6 billion long-term military aid package for Ukraine, the largest to date, which will allow the US to purchase new equipment from the American defense industry for the Ukrainian military. This package includes critical interceptors for air defense systems, counter drone systems, artillery ammunition, and maintenance and support equipment. This announcement comes shortly after a $1 billion package was announced to quickly provide equipment from US stocks and follows President Joe Biden signing a $95 billion supplemental aid package.
The $6 billion aid package announced on Friday will take longer to arrive compared to the quick equipment provided from US stocks in the initial aid package. The aid falls under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which contracts with the defense industry to procure the necessary equipment. This initiative is aimed at providing Ukraine with a long-term supply of weapons and equipment. The delivery timeline will depend on the systems purchased, and the Pentagon intends to move as quickly as possible to provide the capability to Ukraine.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, speaking alongside Austin, highlighted that the USAI package would provide Ukraine with more flexibility, particularly in terms of munitions. Brown noted that Ukraine has had to ration and conserve munitions over time due to the lack of support, and the new package will allow them to operate more effectively against the Russian threat. Austin and Brown’s press conference followed a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to send more assistance, particularly in the area of air defense.
Austin praised the Ukrainian military for being able to hold their own despite the lack of significant US support in recent months. He expressed confidence that the capabilities provided through the aid packages would enable Ukraine to perform better in the face of the Russian threat. The Pentagon is committed to ensuring the swift delivery of the equipment to Ukraine, with the goal of strengthening their defense capabilities. The aid packages aim to support Ukraine in defending itself and increasing its options as it grows stronger in the future. The story has been updated with additional details.
