Blinken—On Surprise Visit To Kyiv—Announces $2 Billion In U.S. Military Aid For Ukraine

Topline

The U.S. will send $2 billion in military support to Ukraine and its European neighbors threatened by Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, bolstering already sizable U.S. assistance to Kyiv as its forces push to retake territory taken by Russia.

Key Facts

In a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital, his second visit since Russia invaded, Blinken said the U.S. planned to send another $2 billion in military aid to support Ukraine and 18 other European countries.

Around half of the package will go to Ukraine, the State Department said, with the remainder going to countries Blinken said are “most potentially at risk for future Russian aggression.”

This includes countries with Russian-backed breakaway regions like Moldova and Georgia, neighboring Baltic nations like Estonia and Lithuania and Balkan states at risk of being destabilized by Russia including Kosovo and Bosnia.

The funding will help the countries “defend against” new threats to their sovereignty, enhance military integration with NATO and counter “Russian influence and aggression,” the State Department said.

The package, which must still be approved by Congress, follows an additional $675 million weapons package for Ukraine announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier on Thursday in Germany.

Austin said the package is meant to help Ukrainian forces “fight and reclaim their sovereign territory” and it includes small arms and ammunition, heavy weapons and armored ambulances.

Big Number

$15.2 billion. That’s how much the Biden Administration has committed to Ukraine since Russia invaded, according to a State Department official cited by Reuters and the Associated Press.

Key Background

The announcement of further funding comes as Ukrainian forces move to mount counter offensives and push to retake occupied land. Austin hailed the “demonstrable success” of Ukrainian forces against “Russia’s onslaught.” Moscow, which was expected to swiftly overwhelm its neighbor, has struggled to make inroads in Ukraine, in large part due to international support and weapons, and has been forced to turn to pariah states like North Korea and Iran to procure weapons.

What To Watch For

President Joe Biden is set to host a call with key allies later on Thursday to discuss next steps in support for Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. Leaders of Group of Seven and NATO nations and the European Union are expected to participate, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg, though it is not clear who else would take part.

Further Reading

U.S. Intelligence Reportedly Shows Russia Is Buying Weapons From North Korea (Forbes)

Blinken, in Kyiv, unveils $2B in US military aid for Europe (AP News)