Biden administration announces $500 million aid package to Ukraine
Mike Brest
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The Biden administration announced a new $500 million military aid package to Ukraine on Tuesday.
This package, the 41st drawdown, includes 30 Bradley and 25 Stryker vehicles, as well as “additional munitions for air defense systems, artillery, and multiple launch rocket systems, anti-tank weapons, anti-radiation missiles, precision aerial munitions,” according to a State Department release. These weapons and equipment will come directly from existing U.S. stockpiles.
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The package “includes key capabilities to support Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations, strengthen its air defenses … and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia’s war of aggression,” the Pentagon said.
The Bradley and Stryker vehicles will replace the ones that have been damaged on the battlefield.
“This security assistance package will support Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive operations with equipment directly tailored for Ukraine’s needs on the battlefield today,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the announcement. “The enduring courage and solidarity of the people of Ukraine continues to inspire the world. Russia started this unprovoked war against Ukraine. Russia could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and people.”
Ukraine has launched its highly anticipated counteroffensive that has been met with stiff Russian resistance.
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The backdrop of the latest package is the escalated feud between top Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, who founded and runs a paramilitary group that often operates as an extension of the Russian military.
Prigozhin, who has long been critical of top Russian military leaders, directed his 25,000-total force to march toward Moscow, though he abruptly called it off after his forces made it roughly 120 miles from the capital. He has since fled to Belarus while Putin said a civil war was prevented.