Topline
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday the U.S. will send Ukraine $1 billion in additional military aid, including anti-ship systems, artillery rockets and ammunition.
TOPSHOT – Members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces examine new armament, including NLAW … [+]
Key Facts
This is the 12th aid package the U.S. has sent since the war broke out in February.
In a statement, Biden also announced he would send an additional $225 million in humanitarian assistance to help Ukrainians gain access to safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, shelter, and healthcare.
The weapons package includes 18 155mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition,18 tactical vehicles to tow howitzers, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HMARS) and four tactical vehicles, with a total value of $350 million, the Pentagon said in a statement.
As part of a $650 million tranche of aid in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the U.S. will also provide Ukraine with two Harpoon coastal defense systems, thousands of secure radios, nightvision, thermal devices, and funding for training, maintenance, sustainment, transportation and administrative costs.
Key Background
As the country struggles to ward off Russian forces in the Donbas region, Ukrainian officials have pressed the West for more aid, specifically heavy artillery. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to garner support for Ukraine at a Wednesday meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, saying the allies must “intensify our shared commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense.”
Big Number
Since the beginning of the Biden administration, the U.S. has sent $6.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including $5.6 billion since Russia attacked Ukraine in February, Pentagon spokesperson J. Todd Breasseale said in a statement.
Key Quote
“No matter how much effort Ukraine makes, no matter how professional our army, without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war,” Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar told reporters during a televised press conference.
Further Reading
Senate Passes $40 Billion Ukraine Aid Package After Weeklong Delay (Forbes)
Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine Has Created 5 Million Refugees (Forbes)
Biden Rules Out Giving Ukraine Rockets ‘That Can Strike Into Russia’ (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliecoleman/2022/06/15/us-giving-ukraine-1-billion-military-aid-package-including-artillery-anti-ship-missiles/