Topline
Two U.S. agencies announced massive new rounds of support for Ukraine on Monday, with the Agency for International Development (USAID) committing $4.5 billion to help support the nation’s faltering economy while the Department of Defense announced another $1 billion in security assistance as Ukraine’s military fights off a Russian invasion.
Ukraine received an additional $1 billion in security and defense assistance from the U.S. … [+]
Key Facts
USAID’s commitment is intended to help the struggling Ukrainian government support displaced residents, children with disabilities and others in need of social and financial assistance.
It is the third major round of budgetary support that USAID has provided in recent months—and the largest—after sending $1.3 billion in June and $1.7 billion in July to help keep basic government services like hospitals and schools afloat.
The Ukrainian government will receive the first $3 billion this month and the remaining $1.5 billion in future rounds of funding.
Once they receive the entire $4.5 billion, the U.S. will have sent a total of $8.5 billion in budgetary assistance.
The DOD also announced today the Biden Administration is authorizing $1 billion in ammunition for advanced rocket systems, Javelin anti-tank weapons, explosives, medical supplies and more to Ukraine–adding to the billions of dollars worth of military equipment they’ve previously sent.
KEY BACKGROUND
This news comes a day after Ukraine accused Russia of nuclear terrorism and urged for stronger responses from the international community. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February, leading the United States and other Western countries to offer billions of dollars in security assistance and humanitarian support. In May, U.S. lawmakers passed the largest foreign aid package in 20 years, approving a $40 billion Ukraine assistance bill that included emergency military aid. The U.S. has given Ukraine High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, counter-artillery radars, ammunition, missile systems, rocket systems, grenade launchers, Howitzers and more–with the types of equipment offered recently getting heavier and more advanced. Dr. Colin Kahl, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, announced Monday that Russian casualties are now between 70,000 and 80,000 since the invasion began. Still, while Russia has pivoted away from attempting to take the entirety of Ukraine, it has made progress toward its goal of capturing the Donbas region.
FURTHER READING
Ukraine Accuses Russia Of ‘Nuclear Terror’ Amid Fighting Near Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant (Forbes)
‘A Spit In The Face’: Russia Condemned For Odessa Strike After Ukraine Grain Deal (Forbes)
Ukraine Strikes Deal With Russia To Resume Grain Exports Amid Fears Of Food Crisis (Forbes)
Russia Invades Ukraine: Here’s What You Need To Know (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/darreonnadavis/2022/08/08/us-commits-another-1-billion-in-arms-and-45-billion-in-aid-to-ukraine/