IRIA News

U.S. lawmakers approved an additional $45 billion aid package for Ukraine, days after Washington announced $1.85 billion in security assistance, including Patriot air defense systems for Kyiv

The new support package for Ukraine would come in addition to about $50 billion worth of aid that the U.S. proposed for the warring nation this year. The announcement of the latest aid package came after President Zelenskyy addressed the United States Congress on December 21.

While in Washington, Zelenskyy said that “The world is too interconnected and too interdependent to allow someone to stay aside and at the same time to feel safe when such a battle continues. Our two nations are allies in this battle and next year will be a turning point, I know it – the point where Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom, the freedom of people who stand for their values.”

During his speech, Zelenskyy asserted to the U.S. Congress that “Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” The Ukrainian president also urged U.S. lawmakers to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

After returning to Kyiv from Washington, Zelenskyy said that despite Russia’s ongoing airstrikes and rocket attacks, Ukrainian forces “are working toward victory”. Zelenskyy added, “We are coming back from Washington with … something that will really help,” and vowed that “We will overcome everything.”

According to a senior U.S. military official, “Patriot is one of the world’s most advanced air defense systems, and it will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability to defend its airspace. It is capable of intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft.”

U.S. Department of Defense official added that “It’s important to put the Patriot battery in context. For air defense, there is no silver bullet. Our goal is to help Ukraine strengthen a layered integrated approach to air defense… Patriot will complement a range of medium and short-range air defense capabilities that we have provided and the allies have provided in prior donation packages.”

The latest weapons package for Ukraine includes:

• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems; 
• 500 precision-guided 155 mm artillery rounds; 
• 10 120 mm mortar systems and 10,000 120 mm mortar rounds; 
• 10 82 mm mortar systems; 
• 10 60 mm mortar systems; 
• 37 Cougar Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles; 
• 120 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles; 
• Six armored utility trucks; 
• High-speed anti-radiation missiles; 
• Precision aerial munitions; 
• 2,700 grenade launchers and small arms; 
• Claymore anti-personnel munitions; 
• Demolition munitions and equipment; 
• Night vision devices and optics; 
• Tactical secure communications systems; 
• Body armor and other field equipment.

In addition to the above-mentioned military equipment the U.S. would also provide Ukraine with 45,000 rounds of 152mm artillery, 20,000 rounds of 122mm artillery, 50,000 122mm GRAD rockets, 100,000 rounds of 125mm tank ammunition, satellite communications terminals and services, as well as funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.

The U.S. Department of Defense release stated that “the United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities” to meet Ukraine’s evolving battlefield requirements.

Separately, on December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his country’s industry chiefs to pace efforts to ensure that the Russian army can timely get all the weapons and military equipment to fight in Ukraine. Putin said that “The most important key task of our military-industrial complex is to provide our units and frontline forces with everything they need: weapons, equipment, ammunition, and gear in the necessary quantities and of the right quality in the shortest possible timeframes.”