US announces $1.2 billion additional military aid for Ukraine

Europe, News, US May 11, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Department of Defense announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine on May 9, 2023. The new military aid package totals up to $1.2 billion and focuses on bolstering Kyiv’s air defense capabilities and sustaining artillery ammunition.

The funds have been announced under the Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The USAI procures capabilities from U.S.-based industries or allied partners to send to Ukraine.

Pentagon released a statement on the latest military aid stating that “the United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.”

Pentagon’s statement also highlighted that Ukraine would receive the latest military technology from the U.S. allowing the war-torn nation to increase integration with the Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radar systems. “The package also contains ammunition to shoot down unmanned aerial systems,” the statement added.

The Department of Defense specified that the latest military aid package aims to address these capabilities:

Additional air defense systems and munitions
Equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems
Ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems
155mm artillery rounds
Commercial satellite imagery services
Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities

*^{U.S. Patriot Missile Systems arrived in Ukraine as part of the American military aid to the country. (Image Credit: Twitter/@BMVg_Bundeswehr)}*

In early May, Ukraine’s air force claimed to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using the newly acquired Patriot defense systems. It is one of the most advanced air defense weapons. One Patriot missile costs about $4 million while the launching setup costs around $10 million.

Counter-offensive continues

Several Ukrainian cities, especially Kyiv, have come under attack by Russian drones and missiles in the past week as the fighting continues to intensify in several regions. Ukraine is gathering all the military and weapons support from its Western allies to launch a highly anticipated counter-offensive this spring.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has been dropping hints about Ukraine’s counteroffensive. In late April, he said that Ukrainian forces are almost finished finalizing the counteroffensive. When it launches, it will mark a significant shift in the conflict. Reznikov said that nearly 10,000 Ukrainian troops have completed different forms of training with the U.S., including advanced maneuver training and programs specific to individual weapon systems.

Military assistance packages and financial aid for Ukraine have bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress member from both the Democratic and Republican parties insist to continue supporting aid for Ukraine.

So far in 2023, Biden Administration has approved more than $5 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The United States is one of the largest military supporters of Ukraine. In total, the Biden Administration has committed more than $37.6 billion in security assistance for Ukraine since taking office in 2021. More than 98% of these funds were committed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022.