Biden team announces $3.75 billion in Ukraine military aid, including armored vehicles
Mike Brest
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the newest military aid package to Ukraine worth a total of $3.75 billion on Friday afternoon. President Joe Biden disclosed a day earlier that the package would include Bradley Fighting Vehicles, marking the first time the United States would provide such assets.
“This $2.85 billion drawdown will provide Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, surface to air missiles, ammunition, and other items to support Ukraine as it bravely defends its people, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity,” the secretary said in a statement. The U.S. also provided an additional $907 million under the Foreign Military Financing under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also pledged to provide Ukraine with Marder infantry fighting vehicles in a joint announcement with Biden. Both leaders said their countries will provide Ukrainians with training on how to use them.
Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder described them as “an armored vehicle that has a firepower capability that can deliver troops into combat. So, again, it will provide a significant boost to Ukraine’s already impressive armored capabilities and we’re confident that it will aid them on the battlefield.”
The additional $907 million includes $225 million in foreign military financing to build “the long-term capacity and support modernization of Ukraine’s military,” and another $682 million in financing for European allies and partners to “help incentivize and backfill donations of military equipment to Ukraine,” Blinken added.
“$225 million for Ukraine will be used to cover wartime requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to provide them with means necessary to defend against Russia’s aggression and may also be used to support the sustainment of equipment previously provided to Ukraine under the Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and under previous drawdowns,” the secretary continued. “In the longer term, this Foreign Military Financing funding may be used to rebuild Ukraine’s capacity to provide for its own defense through development and modernization of its armed forces.”
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Biden has now provided Ukraine with just shy of $25 billion in military assistance since the beginning of his administration.