The United States will send $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine, officials said Monday, including a range of munitions for air defense systems, artillery, mortars and anti-tank and anti-ship missiles.
The plan includes $1.5 billion in funding for long-term contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $200 million in immediate military aid from the Pentagon’s stockpile.
The latest arms delivery comes just over two weeks after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, where allies spent much of their time shoring up support for Ukraine as it pushes back against Russian forces. President Joe Biden announced at the summit that the United States would send four Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine, responding to a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
NATO members agreed to create a new program to provide reliable military assistance to Ukraine and prepare for its eventual membership in the alliance. Some leaders said at the summit that Ukraine was on an “irreversible” path to NATO membership.
The next shipment will include air defense interceptors, rockets, artillery and anti-tank weapons, which will be delivered through the Presidential Withdrawal Authority (PDA), allowing the Pentagon to remove the weapons directly from its shelves.
Air defense weapons include munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), and the Himars systems – for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
The Pentagon said the weapons under the longer-term contract will include “capabilities to augment” Ukraine’s air defenses, as well as other weapons.
The United States also provides secure communications systems and funds commercial satellite imaging services, as well as demolition equipment.
However, in an unusual move, the Defense Ministry declined to specify which specific systems were being rushed to Ukraine via the PDA, and which would be funded by contracts and therefore not reach the war front for months or years.
With the latest funding, U.S. aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 now totals more than $55.4 billion.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the shipment will include “key combat components.” He said it was the ninth military aid package to Ukraine since late April, when Congress finally passed additional funding for aid to Kiev after months of deadlock and delays.
At the time, he reported, “there were legitimate concerns that Russia could achieve a strategic breakthrough on the battlefield by the summer.” But since the funding was passed by Congress, “Ukraine’s defensive lines have been fortified and Ukrainian forces have continued to fight courageously and repel Russian advances.”